People in government offices, businesses and schools across the state stopped everything for a minute to “drop, hide and hold on” Thursday during a statewide earthquake preparedness exercise in its 16th year.

The Great California ShakeOut of 2024 took place at 10:17 a.m

“What we do now to prepare for the next major earthquake will determine how well we can survive and recover,” said a statement posted on ShakeOut.org. “Once a year, the amazing ShakeOut earthquake drills give everyone the opportunity to practice ‘drop, cover and hold on’ and learn other earthquake safety tips.”

The ShakeOut website said more than 10.5 million Californians were expected to take part in the exercise, including 3.4 million in Los Angeles County and 954,000 in Orange County. Around 10.2 million people nationwide registered to take part in last year's event.

The exercises began in 2008.

Communities where local government officials were involved include El Segundo, Arcadia, Calabasas, Lakewood, Lancaster, Hawthorne, Glendora, Costa Mesa, Lake Forest, Buena Park, Torrance, Paramount, Santa Clarita, Seal Beach, San Clemente, Brea , Garden Grove, Newport Beach, West Hollywood and Monrovia. Several Los Angeles city and county agencies, as well as Orange County agencies, are also registered to participate.

Nearly all elementary and high school districts also participated, as did the campuses of California State University and the Los Angeles Community College District, as well as UCLA and USC.

The Metrolink S-Bahn system also took part in the exercise, with all trains slowing down at exactly 10:17 a.m. due to a simulated earthquake. The Orange County Sheriff's Department also used the exercise to test its AlertOC emergency mass notification system, sending a test emergency message to mobile devices and landline phones at 10:17 a.m.

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According to ShakeOut.org, the goal is to emphasize precautions in the event of a quake of magnitude 7.8 or greater on the southernmost part of the San Andreas Fault.

Officials believe such a tectonic shift over four minutes could create waves of motion stretching hundreds of kilometers. According to the US Geological Survey, about 2,000 people would die, tens of thousands would be injured and more than $200 billion in damage would be caused. The disaster would have been 50 times the intensity of the Northridge earthquake of January 17, 1994.

Hundreds of aftershocks would result – some of which would be almost as strong as the original quake, according to the USGS.

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The 2019 exercise came a little more than three months after the July earthquakes that rocked Ridgecrest. The 6.4 and 7.1 magnitude shakers caused significant damage to roads and buildings in the hamlet located south of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station.

Californians should be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours after a major disaster. This includes ensuring each member of a household has a first aid kit, medications, food and enough water to drink a gallon per day, according to local and state officials.

Homeowners and renters should also know how to turn off the gas in their homes in the event of leaks.