Don’t be alarmed, it’s only a test. This statewide earthquake drill is planned
Washington residents will hear tsunami sirens and may receive earthquake alerts the week of Oct. 17 during The Great Shakeout international earthquake drill.
Knowing how to be prepared for an earthquake can be lifesaving, especially in Washington, as it has the second-highest risk of large earthquakes in the United States, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
Washington’s earthquake drill will take place at 10:20 a.m. on Thursday at which the Washington Military Administrator invites you to participate by dropping, covering and holding on wherever you are at that time.
At 10:20 a.m., in addition to practicing the earthquake drill, some Washington residents may hear tsunami sirens and may also receive an earthquake alert on their phone.
Over 120 tsunami sirens along the inner and outer Washington coast will go off with the real wailing sound of a tsunami warning, not the Westminster Chimes that are typically used during the monthly tests, according to a news release from the Washington Military Department.
The tsunami siren will ring for approximately 2 minutes, according to a news release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Washington residents who have downloaded the MyShake Earthquake Early Warning app will also receive a test alert on their phones. This is the first test alert for the free app, and will not require any action or response. For more information and to download the safety app to receive earthquake warnings, visit https://mil.wa.gov/alerts.
Over 1.3 million people have registered to participate in the statewide event, and although registration is not required, Washington Military Department uses registration to measure the drill’s outreach.
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Don’t be alarmed, it’s only a test. This statewide earthquake drill is planned."
