Residents get ready for ‘Shakeout’ drills

Dozens of local businesses, schools and residents are expected to participate in Thursday’s massive statewide earthquake drill, which is aimed at getting the public prepared for a major tremor.

Organizers say the drill, which has been dubbed the Great California Shakeout, will start at 10:17 a.m. It encourages residents to practice how to drop to the ground, cover themselves under a sturdy item and hold onto it.

At least 9.3 million participants had registered to join the drill as of Friday.

Some participants include the Glendale and Burbank Unified school districts, local hospitals, Nestle USA, the Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Studios.

The drill was created in 2008 after a study showed California had a 99.7% chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in the next 30 years.

-- Veronica Rocha, veronica.rocha@latimes.com

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