Cerritos students joined 50 million worldwide participants this morning as they evacuated to the blacktop for the annual earthquake drill known as the Great California Shakeout. First held in 2008, the drill takes place every third Thursday of October in order to prepare California students for large scale earthquakes, since California is at a higher risk than the rest of the country.

Students started the drill at 10:05 a.m. with an informational video that taught what to do during a sudden earthquake: drop, cover, and hold on. Following the video, an announcement over the loudspeaker instructed students to practice what they learned by hiding under their desks, before finally making their way to the blacktop in order to verify everyone evacuated safely.

Some students came prepared with card games to play with friends, as well as chairs and umbrellas to beat the humid 75-degree heat. Senior, Roxanne Gomez, was presently surprised by how smoothly it went, stating that she was glad “everyone was able to do their part so we could finish early.”

The Shakeout lasted 40 minutes, and students were treated to a longer snack due to their smooth quick completion of the drill.

Regardless of where you are, make sure to follow the Great California’s shakeouts rules in order to stay safe. Drop to your hands and knees to prevent yourself from falling, crawl under a table for cover, and hold on so your cover doesn’t move. More information about the Great Shakeout can be found at shakeout.org, which also includes safety tips for you and your family to follow.