If you hear your organization talking about the Great ShakeOut, it has nothing to do with Taylor Swift or Florence and the Machine.

Instead, this international event promotes earthquake preparedness. Having a plan greatly improves outcomes and saves lives.

On October 16 at 10:16 a.m. local time, millions will be practicing how to properly drop, cover, and hold on. Let’s take a look at the science behind earthquakes, the regions they impact, and how to participate in the Great ShakeOut.

What actually causes an earthquake?

The Earth’s outer layer is made up of seven major tectonic plates. Think of these as patches of a quilt that isn’t stitched together perfectly.

The places where the plates meet are called plate boundaries. Some of these contain fault lines. The patches or plates move

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