KNN Cities Desk | October 15, 2026. California’s Great ShakeOut observance is bringing earthquake preparedness into public spaces during the October 15 drill, with the final stop of a four-city emergency education tour in San Diego. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) scheduled a public earthquake simulator at Balboa Park for Thursday, October 15, alongside the statewide ShakeOut drill.
Where the tour stopped
Cal OES scheduled the San Diego event from 6 a.m. to noon at Balboa Park, north of the Plaza de Panama Fountain, near 1549 El Prado. The simulator is intended to give visitors a controlled impression of shaking associated with earthquakes of up to magnitude 7.0. Its purpose is public education—not earthquake prediction.
The San Diego stop followed three earlier events: San Francisco State University on October 12, Sacramento State on October 13, and UCLA in Los Angeles on October 14. The state announced the itinerary on October 7; the October 15 events are the news occasion for this report.
Why preparedness matters beyond the drill
California’s annual Great ShakeOut encourages residents, students, and workplaces to rehearse appropriate protective actions. The statewide drill was scheduled for 10:15 a.m. October 15. Practicing during calm conditions helps people recognize safe actions before shaking makes decisions more difficult.
For many indoor situations, officials emphasize getting low, covering the head and neck under sturdy furniture when possible, and holding on until shaking stops. Individual circumstances and accessibility needs can change the safest response; readers should consult official instructions for their setting.
What readers can do next
Families can use the drill as an opportunity to review meeting places, emergency supplies, and how they will communicate if phones or transportation are disrupted. Schools and community groups can also review guidance in languages and formats their participants can use.
For current event details, see the Cal OES tour announcement and Great ShakeOut resources. The announced timetable should not be mistaken for confirmation of actual event attendance or outcomes.
Featured photograph: illustrative San Diego cityscape by Justin Wolff / Unsplash; not a photograph of the ShakeOut event.
