Nearly a million ready to fake shake in Washington

SEATTLE -- More than 850,000 people plan to participate in the largest earthquake drill ever to occur in Washington state Thursday morning.

File photo

People will drop, cover and hold at 10:17 a.m. in the state's Great Washington ShakOut, a large earthquake and tsunami preparedness drill put on by the state's Emergency Alert System as part of Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month.

The earthquake drill will also coincide with the National Tsunami Warning Center and the National Weather Center, with many pacific coastal communities expected to test their tsunami warning sirens.

According to the state's emergency alert system, the purpose of the activities is to emphasize the need for people to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis. More than 37 states will participate in the ShakeOut across the country, making it one of the largest earthquake and weather drills in the world.

For more information on the ShakeOut, click here.