Cottonwood Heights has announced the ShakeOut 2026 earthquake preparedness drill, scheduled for April 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The annual event is designed to help families and neighborhoods practice safety actions intended to save lives during an earthquake.
At 9:00 AM, participants are encouraged to perform the three essential steps of Drop, Cover, and Hold On. These actions are recognized for their ability to reduce injury during seismic activity.
As part of the drill, residents are asked to place a colored object or emergency ribbon outside their homes before 9:00 AM so that it is visible from the street. This system allows first responders to identify households requiring assistance.
The color-coded ribbon system is defined as follows:
Green indicates no medical situation.
Yellow signals a non-life-threatening condition.
Red alerts responders to a life-threatening emergency.
Black indicates a fatality.
Residents who do not have a ribbon can seek assistance from their local block captain for distribution prior to the event.
The ShakeOut serves as an opportunity for the Cottonwood Heights community to strengthen disaster preparedness and build resilience. For additional earthquake preparedness resources, individuals can visit shakeout.org/utah.
Cottonwood Heights also maintains a history of emergency management training sessions, including past topics such as shelter vs. shelter in place, pet preparedness, and water storage and treatment.
