International ShakeOut Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Great ShakeOut materials identify International ShakeOut Day as the third Thursday of October and promote earthquake drill participation
About International ShakeOut Day
International ShakeOut Day is the principal annual date for Great ShakeOut earthquake drills, held on the third Thursday in October. Participants practice protective actions and other preparedness steps appropriate to their location and needs.
The ShakeOut began as a Southern California exercise on 13 November 2008, expanded to statewide and other regional drills, and gained a global registration framework for the 18 October 2012 ShakeOut.
Why International ShakeOut Day matters
ShakeOut is a preparedness drill, not a prediction that an earthquake will occur on the observance date and not a guarantee that one action will prevent every injury.
Protective guidance can vary with setting, disability, mobility, building type and local hazard. Participants should use official instructions for their jurisdiction and adapt drills safely to real access and functional needs.
History of International ShakeOut Day
The first Great Southern California ShakeOut was held on 13 November 2008 after Earthquake Country Alliance leaders began planning a broad public exercise around the USGS-led ShakeOut earthquake scenario.
In 2009 the drill expanded statewide in California, and organizers selected an annual third-Thursday-in-October schedule. Great ShakeOut’s current FAQ says this timing was chosen when most schools agreed it was the best time.
ShakeOut spread to additional regions and countries. A global website was established for the 18 October 2012 drill so participants outside established regional ShakeOuts could register and be included in the global total.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Great Southern California ShakeOut
The original Southern California drill expanded statewide in 2009 and subsequently into additional regions and international participation.
Earthquake Country Alliance leaders and Southern California earthquake-preparedness partners
The ShakeOut history says Earthquake Country Alliance leaders began planning in fall 2007 to involve Southern California residents in a broad exercise built around the USGS-led ShakeOut scenario.
Earthquake Country Alliance / Southern California ShakeOut organizers
The first ShakeOut was an organized public preparedness exercise, not a statutory observance.
First documented observance
ShakeOut’s historical overview says a new global website was established for the October 18, 2012 ShakeOut so people in any other state or country could register and be counted in the global total.
The statewide annual drill adopted the third Thursday of October as its recurring date.
Great California ShakeOut organizers · Annual drill schedule
A global registration site allowed participants outside established ShakeOut regions to join and be counted internationally.
Great ShakeOut network · Global registration website
Great ShakeOut regional organizer network
The current ShakeOut site coordinates international registration and links regional ShakeOut programs; regional emergency-management and earthquake-preparedness partners administer local participation.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe International ShakeOut Day
Register for or plan an earthquake drill using the official ShakeOut guidance for your region and organization.
Practice the recommended protective action for your setting, including accessibility modifications where standard Drop, Cover, and Hold On is not physically possible.
Use the drill to identify unsecured objects, communication gaps, evacuation issues or other preparedness improvements that can be addressed afterward.
Keep drills controlled and safe: do not simulate hazards in ways that create falls, panic, blocked exits or other avoidable risks.
International ShakeOut Day Facts
International ShakeOut Day is held on the third Thursday in October.
The first Great Southern California ShakeOut took place on 13 November 2008.
The annual third-Thursday schedule was selected in 2009.
A global ShakeOut registration website was established for the 18 October 2012 drill.
Official ShakeOut material provides modified protective guidance for people with disabilities or access and functional needs.
International ShakeOut Day Messages
Wishing every ShakeOut participant a safe drill and a clearer plan for what to do when strong shaking begins.
On International ShakeOut Day, take the opportunity to learn your local guidance, practice it safely and improve what needs work.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Earthquake Country Alliance / ShakeOut — 2012 California ShakeOut History and Overview (opens in a new tab)
Great ShakeOut — accessibility-modified protective guidance (opens in a new tab)
Great ShakeOut — FAQ (opens in a new tab)
Great ShakeOut — FAQ (opens in a new tab)
Preparedness Drill Campaign
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International ShakeOut Day?
Third Thursday in October; 15 October in 2026 The documented recurrence rule is: Third Thursday in October.
Does International ShakeOut Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is International ShakeOut Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Great ShakeOut earthquake drills / international participation. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International ShakeOut Day?
The reviewed sources identify Earthquake Country Alliance / Southern California ShakeOut organizers as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Earthquake Country Alliance leaders and Southern California earthquake-preparedness partners. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Great ShakeOut regional organizer network.
Is International ShakeOut Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Great ShakeOut earthquake drills / international participation. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-19.
When is International ShakeOut Day?
It is held on the third Thursday in October.
When did ShakeOut begin?
The first Great Southern California ShakeOut was held on 13 November 2008. The campaign later expanded, with a global registration framework in place for the 18 October 2012 ShakeOut.
Why is ShakeOut on the third Thursday in October?
Great ShakeOut’s current FAQ says the annual date was selected in 2009 when most schools agreed it was the best time.
Does everyone use exactly the same earthquake drill action?
No. Official ShakeOut guidance includes modifications for different settings and for people with disabilities or access and functional needs. Follow current official guidance for your location and circumstances.
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