That is the three-step plan the state of Utah advises people to follow to prevent injury in case of an earthquake.

And at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, nearly 1 million people gave the procedure a practice run as part of the Great Utah Shakeout.

“Earthquakes can happen anytime, without warning, which is why we practice this,” Utah Division of Emergency Management spokesperson Genevieve Keys said. “So being prepared saves lives.”

Earthquakes can hit anywhere in the state, but those in the state’s population centers are most vulnerable.

Utah is located alongside the 100-mile-wide Intermountain Seismic Belt, which runs from Northern Utah down to St. George. Lying within the belt is the active Wasatch Fault Line that goes from Northern to Central Utah, running past Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo.

With that risk in mind, the Great Utah Shakeout started in 2012 to help people be prepared for an unexpected earthquake.

Over 950,000 people statewide signed up for the event this year, surpassing the total of just over 930,000 people in 2024.

Utah County had 248,195 participants — roughly a third of the county — including 139,440 students and teachers at K-12 schools and districts, 65,660 members of colleges and universities and 22,577 local government officials.

When an earthquake hits, people are advised to drop to the ground to avoid falling, take cover under a desk or table and hold on until the shaking stops.

If a good surface to get under isn’t available, Keys suggests getting low to the ground and covering your head and neck with your arms, a pillow or anything that’s available.

Running outside is not advised.

“That might be someone’s first initial reaction, which is why we practice this drop, cover, hold on, because we want to build the muscle memory so that way, when an earthquake happens, people are less likely to panic and they’re more likely to do what they know,” Keys said.

Utah averages a magnitude 6 earthquake every 15-20 years, according to the state’s emergency management department. The most recent notable earthquake came March 18, 2020, when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Northwest Salt Lake County.

Earthquakes can’t be predicted, but being ready for one can mitigate the risk.

Keys said families should have emergency preparedness kits, a communication plan, identify any potential hazards in the home, determine safe spots in the house and regularly practice the drop and cover procedure.

Go to beready.utah.gov for more information.