Millions of people are set to participate in a multi-state earthquake drill Thursday.
The "Great Southeast Shakeout'' will invoke what has become the mantra of earthquake response. The action is called "drop, cover and hold on.'' That means drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on until the shaking stops.
Schools, business, government agencies and individuals are expected to join in the drill.
More than 1 million Virginians participated in the drill last year. The Commonwealth joined the drill following the Aug. 23, 2011, powerful earthquake that rocked the East Coast and was centered in Mineral.
The earthquake-damaged Washington National Cathedral is also participating in the drill. Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are scheduled to speak at the cathedral for an event associated with the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill.
The cathedral sustained more than $20 million worth of damage to its pinnacles, buttresses and ceilings from the 2011, 5.8 magnitude earthquake.
The drill will begin at 10:16 a.m.
