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| Millions 'drop' in US quake drill | Millions 'drop' in US quake drill |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Millions of people across southern California have been taking part in what organisers say is the biggest-ever US earthquake drill. | Millions of people across southern California have been taking part in what organisers say is the biggest-ever US earthquake drill. |
| Schools, hospitals and businesses joined in the exercise known as "The Great Southern California Shake-out". | Schools, hospitals and businesses joined in the exercise known as "The Great Southern California Shake-out". |
| The drill was based on the hypothetical scenario of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake striking the southern portion of the San Andreas Fault. | The drill was based on the hypothetical scenario of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake striking the southern portion of the San Andreas Fault. |
| It was devised by scientists to help people prepare for future earthquakes. | It was devised by scientists to help people prepare for future earthquakes. |
| At precisely 1000 local time (1800GMT), when the earthquake is supposed to have struck, millions of participants followed instructions to "drop, cover and hold on" - drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk and hold on until the shaking stopped. | At precisely 1000 local time (1800GMT), when the earthquake is supposed to have struck, millions of participants followed instructions to "drop, cover and hold on" - drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk and hold on until the shaking stopped. |
| They were guided by a public service message sent to buildings and broadcast by television and radio stations. | They were guided by a public service message sent to buildings and broadcast by television and radio stations. |
| Search and rescue | Search and rescue |
| At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, a sports field was set up as a triage centre, with "injured" victims, some wearing gory make-up, being ferried to hastily erected hospital tents. | At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, a sports field was set up as a triage centre, with "injured" victims, some wearing gory make-up, being ferried to hastily erected hospital tents. |
| In pictures: Quake drillShaken into shape | In pictures: Quake drillShaken into shape |
| At the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, search and rescue teams were deployed to find victims trapped in a maze of cardboard boxes simulating survivors buried in rubble. | At the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, search and rescue teams were deployed to find victims trapped in a maze of cardboard boxes simulating survivors buried in rubble. |
| Fire crews, police and medical emergency services also took part in exercises at several locations. | Fire crews, police and medical emergency services also took part in exercises at several locations. |
| "If you are prepared, it gives you an automatic sense of calmness because you have the tools and equipment necessary to function," Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda told reporters. | "If you are prepared, it gives you an automatic sense of calmness because you have the tools and equipment necessary to function," Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda told reporters. |
| Organisers say 300 scientists have worked together on the scenario for the drill | Organisers say 300 scientists have worked together on the scenario for the drill |
| The imagined earthquake would, they say, cause 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200bn (£134bn) in damage. | The imagined earthquake would, they say, cause 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200bn (£134bn) in damage. |
| California is one of America's most earthquake-prone states. | California is one of America's most earthquake-prone states. |
| The US Geological Survey says it faces a 46% chance of being hit by a magnitude 7.5 or higher earthquake in the next 30 years. | The US Geological Survey says it faces a 46% chance of being hit by a magnitude 7.5 or higher earthquake in the next 30 years. |
| The last major earthquake to strike California was in 1994, when a magnitude 6.7 strike left 57 people dead. | The last major earthquake to strike California was in 1994, when a magnitude 6.7 strike left 57 people dead. |
| The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was about 7.8 and caused some 3,000 deaths in collapsed buildings and fires. | The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was about 7.8 and caused some 3,000 deaths in collapsed buildings and fires. |
| Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Are you taking part in the quake drill? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Are you taking part in the quake drill? Send us your comments using the form below. |