Calhoun County Is Shaking It Out: Join the Great Southeast ShakeOut Oct. 15

Calhoun County EMA and Calhoun County government will join the Great Southeast ShakeOut this Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 a.m.

Gov. Henry McMaster has proclaimed October 11–17, 2026, as Earthquake Preparedness Week in South Carolina. The Great Southeast ShakeOut, a regional earthquake drill, is set for Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 a.m., and more than 1 million people across eight states and Washington, D.C., are expected to take part. We are encouraging every resident and every county employee to take one minute to practice how to stay safe during an earthquake. Anyone can register at shakeout.org/southeast.

What to do during an earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

1. DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This keeps you from being knocked down and reduces your chance of being hit by falling or flying objects.
2. COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall.
3. HOLD ON until the shaking stops. Under shelter, hold on to it with one hand and be ready to move with it if it shifts. With no shelter, protect your head and neck with both arms and hands.

If you have difficulty getting onto the ground, or cannot get back up without help, adapt the drill. Sit in a chair or on a bed and cover your head and neck with both hands. If you use a walker or wheelchair, lock the wheels if applicable, get as low as you can, bend over, and cover your head and neck. Keep a cane within reach so you have it when the shaking stops.

Stay where you are while the ground is shaking. Do not run outside, and do not stand in a doorway; neither is safer than getting under a sturdy table. If you are in bed, stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow. If you are driving, pull over in a clear area away from buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. If you are outdoors, stay outdoors and move to a clear area away from buildings, trees, and power lines.

Earthquake preparedness checklist

Take a few minutes this week to get ready.

Secure your home

• Strap bookcases and shelves to the walls to prevent tipping, and strap down televisions
• Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves
• Securely fasten or relocate heavy pictures and mirrors hanging over beds
• Secure cabinets to wall studs and use latches to keep doors from opening
• Know how and where to shut off your utilities

Identify safe places

• Indoors: under a sturdy table or desk, or next to an interior wall if no shelter is nearby
• Outdoors: in a clear area, away from buildings, trees, and power lines

Build or update your emergency kit with at least three days of supplies for everyone in your household:

• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Portable NOAA weather radio with extra batteries
• First aid kit, including prescription medications
• Non-perishable food to last at least 3 days
• Bottled water: 2 gallons per person per day, per the SCEMD kit list
• Sturdy shoes or work boots
• Cash, and copies of important documents
• Phone chargers

Make a plan

• Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your household and coworkers
• Create a family emergency communications plan with an out-of-state contact, and decide where to meet if you are separated
• Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies typically do not cover earthquake damage, according to the S.C. Department of Insurance

Mark your calendar, set a reminder, and join us at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, October 15. Practice now so the right actions become automatic. For more tips, visit the South Carolina Earthquake Guide. The free SC Emergency Manager app also includes an earthquake map and alerts for seismic activity.

1. Sign up for Calhoun CodeRED. It’s the county’s emergency notification system and the fastest way to get alerts directly to your phone.
calhounema.com/calhoun-codered-signup

2. Bookmark calhounema.com. Check it for current OPCON status, current weather, advisories, and updates like this one.

Stay safe, Calhoun County.

Sources:
South Carolina Emergency Management Division, “South Carolina to ShakeOut for Earthquake Preparedness Week”: scemd.org
WRDW/WAGT, “Gov. McMaster proclaims South Carolina Earthquake Preparedness Week,” Oct. 8, 2026: wrdw.com
Great Southeast ShakeOut registration: shakeout.org/southeast
ShakeOut, “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”: shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon
South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina Earthquake Guide, “Prepare”: earthquake.sc/prepare
FEMA, “Earthquakes”: ready.gov/earthquakes