The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has recently published The ShakeOut Scenario, the first publication related to the Great Southern California ShakeOut. The ShakeOut Scenario was created in collaboration with the California Geological Survey, Southern California Earthquake Center, California Office of Emergency Services, and the Seismic Safety Commission.

The ShakeOut Scenario is, from the publication's site: ". . . the initial publication of the results of a cooperative project to examine the implications of a major earthquake in southern California. The study comprised eight counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura. Its results will be used as the basis of an emergency response and preparedness exercise, the Great Southern California ShakeOut."

The Great Southern California ShakeOut is a week of special events featuring the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history, organized to inspire Californians to get ready for big earthquakes, and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes. The main event will take place on Thursday, November 13 at 10 am, the time when the 7.8 magnitude earthquake has been designated as taking place for the exercise.

According to the site, the "ShakeOut Drill is our chance to practice what to do when [a large earthquake] happens. Individuals, families, businesses, schools and organizations will join firefighters, police officers, and other emergency responders (involved in the statewide Golden Guardian exercise) in [the] largest-ever earthquake preparedness activity."

The USGS has also made a set of Shakeout videos and images, including 30 second shake intensity maps for southern California, available online as well.