It is the biggest earthquake drill ever. Thursday, millions of Californians will take part in what is being called the “Great California ShakeOut.”

The drill is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Thursday. That means wherever you are at that moment–home, work, or school–you should drop, cover and hold on. The purpose of this simultaneous drill is to practice how to protect ourselves.

The Red Cross advises three basic steps: make a plan, be informed, and get an emergency kit together–something many families have not done. For starters, nonperishable foods, a flashlight, and batteries should all go in that kit.

Emergency officials say it really just takes a few minutes to lay out a plan with your family.

More than 6 million people have registered to take part in the drill, sponsored by various state agencies. About 5.5 million Californians participated in last year’s drill, organizers said.

This year’s participants also can watch an animated video that shows how much damage a magnitude 7.8 earthquake can cause.

Thursday’s event comes two days before the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. The magnitude 6.9 quake rocked Northern California in 1989, killing dozens, collapsing a 50-foot section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, damaging thousands of homes, and interrupting baseball’s World Series.

(Source: KSBY / CNN / YWN-106 / YWN-153)