A friendly reminder: a massive earthquake is poised to hit the Bay Area (again), one that will surely cause millions of dollars worth of damage and, most likely, kill dozens of people, if not more. Why not get prepared for that big day? Which is coming. Soon.

Today at 10:17 a.m.—the anniversary of Loma Prieta—the Great ShakeOut happens. What is that, you ask? It's an annual day in which millions of people worldwide practice how to "drop, cover, and hold," followed by earthquake preparedness tips and such. Businesses, schools, and people just like you take part in the annual earthquake readiness day,

ShakeOut.org has more (emphasis ours):

The main point is to not try to move but to immediately protect yourself as best as possible where you are. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl; you therefore will most likely be knocked to the ground where you happen to be. You will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be start of the big one. You should Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately!

In addition, studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes in the U.S. over the last several decades indicate that you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc.) than to die in a collapsed building. Drop, Cover, and Hold On offers the best overall level of protection in most situations.

Methods like standing in a doorway, running outside, or the "triangle of life" are considered very dangerous and not recommended. Read more here.

Also, if you haven't already, you should make a plan, build an earthquake survival kit, and learn how to get involved. 72Hours.org is a great resource.

Until then...