Loud warning sirens will sound at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 on Whidbey Island and elsewhere as part of the statewide Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake drill, the county’s Department of Emergency Management announced.

Usually the monthly warning sound uses chimes rather than the siren, but it is important to test the siren so the public is familiar with its sounds, the agency said in a prepared release.

As part of the drill, residents are encouraged to practice actions that may reduce in injury and death during earthquakes. That includes dropping to the ground, getting under a sturdy desk or table, and holding on until the shaking stops. Residents should also take one additional step to protect themselves, such as starting to assemble an earthquake readiness kit.

Individuals, families, businesses, schools, colleges, government agencies and other organizations can register online for the Washington Great ShakeOut drill and can obtain drill resources and more information about earthquake preparedness at http://www.shakeout.org/washington/. As of Sept. 22, more than 760,000 people had signed up to participate in Washington, the agency said.