Earthquake Safety: What to Do Before, During and After

Earthquakes don’t give warnings. One moment everything is normal; the next, the ground is shaking beneath your feet. In my 15 years as a firefighter and emergency responder, I’ve seen how quickly a major seismic event can overwhelm even the most prepared communities — and how a little knowledge can mean the difference between survival and tragedy.

This guide is built on real disaster response experience and the latest guidance from FEMA, USGS, and the American Red Cross. Whether you live in an earthquake-prone region or simply want to be ready for the unexpected, this is the information that matters most.

Understanding Earthquakes: The Basics

An earthquake occurs when energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually along a fault line. The shaking you feel is caused by seismic waves radiating outward from the point of rupture — called the hypocenter — to the surface point above it, called the epicenter.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that several million earthquakes occur around the world every year, though the vast majority are too small to feel. However, the ones we do feel — particularly those measuring 5.0 or higher on the Richter scale — can cause catastrophic structural damage, fires, tsunamis, and landslides.

High-risk areas in the United States include California, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of the central Midwest (near the New Madrid Seismic Zone). But no region is entirely immune. According to the USGS, all 50 states have some level of seismic hazard.

Before an Earthquake: Building Your Preparedness Foundation

The most important earthquake work you’ll ever do happens long before the ground starts shaking. Preparation is where lives are saved.

Secure Your Home

Walk through your home with a critical eye. Heavy furniture — bookshelves, refrigerators, water heaters — can topple and cause fatal injuries during strong shaking. Anchor large furniture pieces to wall studs using anti-tip straps or L-brackets. Move heavy objects to lower shelves. Secure your water heater with earthquake straps, which are available at most hardware stores.

Identify potential hazards: combustible materials near ignition sources, unsecured fuel-burning appliances, mirrors or framed artwork above sleeping areas. Each of these represents a preventable injury risk.

Build a Household Emergency Kit

FEMA recommends having at least 72 hours of supplies readily available — but in major urban disasters, you may be on your own for considerably longer. A solid kit includes:

Water: One gallon per person per day, stored in sealed containers. A good emergency water storage system or reliable water pouches can be lifesaving — this is one item worth investing in.
Non-perishable food: Canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit — foods that require no cooking or refrigeration.
First aid kit: A comprehensive one stocked with bandages, antiseptic, splints, and any regular medications your household needs.
Flashlight and extra batteries: Power outages are nearly guaranteed after a significant quake. A hand-crank or solar-powered flashlight removes battery dependence entirely.
Portable power bank: Keeping your phone charged when the grid is down can be critical for receiving emergency alerts and contacting family.
Copies of important documents: Insurance policies, identification, medical records — stored in a waterproof bag.
Whistle: To signal for help if you’re trapped under debris.
Local maps: GPS may be unreliable after a disaster.

Make a Family Communication Plan

Decide in advance how your family will reconnect if you’re separated during an earthquake. Choose an out-of-state contact who everyone can check in with — long-distance calls are often easier to complete than local ones immediately after a disaster. Identify a safe meeting place near your home and a backup farther away.

Practice this plan with every member of your household, including children. According to the American Red Cross, families who rehearse their emergency plans are significantly better prepared to execute them under stress.

Know Your Building’s Vulnerabilities

Not all buildings perform equally in earthquakes. Older unreinforced masonry buildings, “soft-story” apartment buildings (those with open-front ground floors, often used for parking), and homes not bolted to their foundations are particularly vulnerable. If you rent or own, research your building type and local seismic retrofit requirements. Many cities offer free or subsidized retrofit inspections.

During an Earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

When shaking begins, you have seconds to act. The instinct to run outside is understandable — but almost always the wrong move. Most earthquake injuries occur from falling objects, not building collapse, and running means moving through an unstable environment while debris is in motion.

The Correct Response Indoors

The proven protocol, endorsed by FEMA and emergency management professionals worldwide, is Drop, Cover, and Hold On:

DROP to your hands and knees. This position keeps you lower and more stable, protecting you from being knocked over.
COVER your head and neck with your arms, or get under a sturdy desk or table if one is nearby. If no table is available, move against an interior wall away from windows.
HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you’re under a table, hold onto it and be prepared to move with it.

Stay away from windows, exterior walls, and anything that could fall — bookshelves, light fixtures, televisions. In a high-rise, do not rush for the stairs or elevators during active shaking.

If You’re Outdoors

Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the open, drop to the ground and stay there until shaking stops. The greatest danger outdoors is falling glass and building facades.

If You’re in a Vehicle

Pull over safely, away from overpasses, bridges, and buildings. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Avoid stopping under bridges or overpasses, which can collapse. Proceed cautiously after the shaking ends, watching for road damage and downed power lines.

If You’re Trapped Under Debris

Do not light a match or lighter — utility lines may be compromised. Cover your mouth with clothing to filter dust. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Shout only as a last resort — you could inhale dangerous amounts of dust. Use a whistle if you have one.

After an Earthquake: The Critical First Hours

The shaking has stopped — but the danger isn’t over. Aftershocks can follow within minutes, sometimes nearly as powerful as the initial quake. Secondary hazards like fires, gas leaks, and structural instability claim lives long after the initial event.

Check for Immediate Hazards

Before moving through your home, look for visible structural damage — cracks in load-bearing walls, a sagging roof, or shifted foundation. If you detect a gas odor, evacuate immediately without turning any lights on or off (a spark can trigger an explosion), leave the door open, and call your gas utility from outside or a neighbor’s phone.

Check for small fires and extinguish them if it’s safe to do so. Check on neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled, who may need assistance evacuating.

Inspect Utilities Carefully

If you suspect gas or water, or electrical damage, shut off the service at the main valve or breaker before attempting any entry or inspection. Know in advance where these shutoffs are located and have the right tools nearby. Do not use electrical switches or appliances if you suspect a gas-line rupture.

Be Prepared for Aftershocks

Aftershocks are common following significant earthquakes and can occur for days, weeks, or even months. Each time you feel shaking, repeat Drop, Cover, and Hold On. A building weakened by the initial quake may not survive a strong aftershock.

Getting Information

Tune in to emergency broadcasts via battery-powered radio. Follow instructions from local emergency management officials. If you’ve been evacuated, do not return until authorities say it is safe. NOAA’s National Weather Service issues geophysical alerts that can help you track aftershock activity in your region.

From My Experience in the Field

From my experience in disaster response, what separates the people who come through a major earthquake intact from those who don’t is almost never luck — it’s preparation and practiced decision-making. At real evacuation centers after seismic events, what I witnessed was this: families who had talked through their plan, who had a meeting point, who had a bag ready — they arrived stressed but functional. Families who had done nothing arrived in a state of shock, with no documents, no medications, no way to contact each other.

I’ve also watched communities suffer preventable secondary deaths: people returning to structurally compromised buildings before clearance, gas line fires ignited by electrical switches, neighbors unable to get out because heavy furniture had blocked the only exit. Every one of those outcomes was preventable.

Preparation isn’t about fear. It’s about making decisions in advance so you don’t have to make them in crisis mode.

Special Considerations for Families with Children

Children need age-appropriate preparation. Teach school-age children the Drop, Cover, and Hold On protocol at home — not just at school. Practice it until it’s automatic. Make sure they know their full name, your phone number, and your family’s meeting place.

For infants and toddlers, ensure their sleeping area is clear of overhead hazards. Keep a go-bag with diapers, formula, and comfort items ready.

For pets, have a carrier, a leash, food, and water available. Many emergency shelters do not accept pets, so identify a pet-friendly shelter or boarding option in your area in advance.

Earthquake Safety for Renters and Apartment Dwellers

You may not be able to bolt your water heater to the wall or retrofit your building’s foundation — but there’s still a lot you can control. Use museum putty to secure decorative items. Place heavy items on lower shelves. Identify the safest spots in each room (away from windows and heavy furniture). Know all exit routes from your building, and remember that elevators should never be used during or immediately after an earthquake.

Talk to your landlord about the building’s construction type and any seismic upgrades that have been made. In many jurisdictions, landlords of older buildings are legally required to disclose structural vulnerabilities.

Key Judgment Points: When to Act and How

These are the five critical decision points I’ve seen people get wrong — and that can make a life-or-death difference:

Do not run outside during active shaking. Falling glass and facade debris are the most immediate outdoor danger. Stay put and protect yourself until the shaking stops.
Smell gas? Leave everything. Don’t look for your phone, don’t flip the light switch. Exit the building immediately and call from outside.
Don’t re-enter a damaged building without clearance. What looks stable may not be. Aftershocks can finish what the main quake started.
Check on neighbors before evacuating. Elderly residents, those with disabilities, and people who live alone may be unable to self-evacuate.
Monitor official channels — not just social media. Rumors spread faster than facts after disasters. Tune in to NOAA weather radio or your local emergency management agency for verified information.

Today’s Action: Three Steps You Can Take Right Now

Don’t let this guide become something you read and forget. Commit to these three actions today:

Walk your home and identify the three biggest hazards. A heavy bookshelf that could fall, a water heater without straps, a bedroom mirror above the headboard. Pick the most dangerous one and address it this week.
Set up a family communication plan. Choose your out-of-state contact, agree on a meeting spot, and make sure everyone has the information written down somewhere they can access it without a phone.
Check your emergency water supply. Do you have at least three days’ worth? If not, this is the week to fix that. A reliable water storage system is one of the most important investments you can make in your household’s resilience.

Summary

Earthquakes are one of the few natural disasters that strike without warning, but they are not beyond our ability to prepare for. Before one strikes, secure your home, build your emergency kit, and make a family plan. During an earthquake, Drop, Cover, and Hold On — and stay put until the shaking stops. Afterward, check for gas leaks, inspect for structural damage, and follow official guidance before re-entering any building.

The knowledge you carry — and the decisions you’ve made in advance — are the most powerful tools you have in any disaster. Use them.

Sources

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Earthquake Risk Management
United States Geological Survey (USGS): Earthquake Hazards in the United States
American Red Cross: Earthquake Safety and Preparedness