Cedar Park Students Put Earthquake Preparedness Into Practice During Great Washington ShakeOut

Students at Cedar Park Elementary put their emergency preparedness skills into action Thursday, Oct. 15, as they participated in the Great Washington ShakeOut, an annual earthquake and tsunami drill designed to help people practice what to do when an earthquake strikes. 

At 10:15 a.m., students practiced “drop, cover, and hold on,” the recommended action to help protect people from falling objects and debris during an earthquake. 

Cedar Park welcomed Maximilian Dixon, Hazards and Outreach Section Supervisor with the Washington State Emergency Management Division, who visited the school to see students participate in the drill. Dixon and his team partner with Seattle Public Schools each year to highlight elementary students practicing earthquake preparedness as part of the statewide ShakeOut. 

Dixon observed Ms. DelRosso’s fifth-grade class, which was in the school library when the drill began. Students quickly put their preparation into practice, demonstrating how regular emergency drills can help make important safety actions familiar. 

More than 1.5 million people registered to participate in this year’s Great Washington ShakeOut. In addition to earthquake drills across the state, Washington emergency officials conducted tests of tsunami sirens along the coast, NOAA Weather Radios and the Emergency Alert System on television and radio. 

The annual ShakeOut is also an important reminder that emergency preparedness extends beyond schools. Families and community members are encouraged to talk about what they would do following a major earthquake and how they can prepare together. 

Learn more about earthquake preparedness and the Great Washington ShakeOut.