International ShakeOut Day set for Oct. 15 as Arkansans prepare for earthquakes

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The annual International ShakeOut Day will take place Thursday, Oct. 15, at 10:15 a.m., when millions of people around the world will pause to practice what to do during an earthquake.

At home, work or school, participants will follow the essential drill: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. The goal of the ShakeOut is to promote earthquake preparedness and ensure communities know how to respond quickly and safely when the ground starts to shake.

More than 29,000 Arkansans have already registered to take part this year, joining 1.4 million people in the Central United States region and more than 50.3 million participants worldwide. In 2025, more than 60 million people across the Central U.S. participated in the ShakeOut, making it one of the largest disaster preparedness exercises in the country.

Participants are encouraged to take the drill further by reviewing emergency plans, checking emergency supply kits and securing items in their homes and workplaces that could fall and cause injury during an earthquake. Families, schools, businesses and organizations can all benefit from using ShakeOut as a reminder to prepare.

Arkansas has experienced a number of earthquakes this year, many located along the New Madrid Fault Line, which has a significant chance of producing an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 or higher. Such an event would be catastrophic for communities near the fault line. Officials say it is crucial for residents, especially in Eastern and Central Arkansas, to have an earthquake emergency plan in place and to know how to protect themselves in the event of a major earthquake.

The ShakeOut is free and open to everyone. Individuals, schools and organizations can register at shakeout.org/register to be counted among this year’s participants and to access preparedness resources.

For more information and tips on how to successfully participate in an earthquake drill, visit earthquakecountry.org/step5. For more in-depth information on seismic activity happening in the state, visit the Arkansas Office of the State Geologist at geology.arkansas.gov/geohazards/earthquakes-in-arkansas.html.

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit www.adem.arkansas.gov.