Except for being prone to real earthquakes repeatedly every year, Southern Californians are now being subjected to earthquake drills. The drill is meant to test the speed of reactions and the reactions themselves in case of a real natural threat, such a high-magnitude earthquake.

Scientists and emergency officials are the ones who organized the Great Southern California ShakeOut drill. The drill was an intricate part of a campaign meant to prepare the Southern Californians for an expected earthquake. Scientists predict that the earthquake they expect to hit the area has been lurking for some time, and will thus be massive in strength and the subsequent damages will be incommensurable.

It is thought that an earthquake of a 7.8 magnitude will hit the San Andreas Fault. The upcoming earthquake was compared in strength and damage-causing capacity to the earthquake that struck China in May of this year.

5 million Southern Californians had officially registered to take part in the drill, and officials believe that many others will participate in the drill without previously registering.

The exercise that will have to be performed by people who live in Southern California is the classic “drop, cover and hold-on.” The participants will have to perform the safety exercise for a total of two minutes. The participants who will take part in the drill will be in schools, offices and homes when the drill will take place, similar to where they might be when a disastrous earthquake might hit.

A public service message will be broadcast in institutions, and also on TV and radio stations, so that everyone can be properly informed about the drill commencing.