Earthquake Safety: What to Do Before, During and After an Earthquake

Earthquakes can strike without warning, but proper preparation and knowing how to respond can significantly reduce the risk of injury and save lives.

1. Make Your Home Safer

Before an earthquake occurs, identify objects around your home, workplace or school that could fall or cause injury.

Secure tall furniture such as bookcases and cabinets to walls. Keep heavy or fragile items on lower shelves, and secure televisions and other large objects.

Learn how to safely turn off gas, electricity and water, and know where the main controls are located. Stay away from windows, glass and other objects that could fall during strong shaking.

2. Prepare an Emergency Kit

Keep an emergency survival kit in an easily accessible location. An earthquake can disrupt electricity, water supplies and communication networks.

Your kit should contain:

Drinking water

Non-perishable food

First-aid supplies

Flashlight

Extra batteries

Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

Whistle

Essential medicines

Power bank

Copies of important documents

Some cash

Strong shoes to protect your feet from broken glass and debris

3. When the Earthquake Starts: Drop, Cover and Hold On

If you are indoors when the shaking begins, stay inside and protect yourself until the shaking stops. Running outside while a building is shaking can expose you to falling glass, debris and other hazards.

Remember the three key actions:

DROP: Get down onto your hands and knees.

COVER: Get under a sturdy table or desk and protect your head and neck. If there is no suitable shelter nearby, move toward an interior wall and stay away from windows.

HOLD ON: Hold onto your shelter until the shaking stops and be prepared to move with it.

4. What to Do Depending on Where You Are

Your response should depend on your surroundings:

Indoors: Stay inside and Drop, Cover and Hold On.

Store or office: Stay inside, move away from shelves and glass, and protect your head.

School: Follow instructions from teachers or staff and protect yourself under a sturdy desk or table.

Car: Pull over safely away from bridges, power lines, trees and other hazards. Remain inside until the shaking stops.

Outdoors: Move to an open area away from buildings, power lines, trees and anything that could fall.

Elevator: Stay inside until it stops. Exit only when it is safe.

5. Stay Alert After the Shaking Stops

The end of the main earthquake does not necessarily mean the danger is over. Aftershocks may occur, while damaged buildings, fires, gas leaks, broken glass and fallen power lines can create additional dangers.

Check yourself and others for injuries. If you suspect a gas leak because of a damaged pipe or the smell of gas, leave the area and do not attempt to turn the gas back on yourself.

Avoid damaged electrical wiring and follow local safety instructions.

If another tremor occurs, Drop, Cover and Hold On again.

Use your phone carefully after an earthquake. Avoid unnecessary calls that could overload networks. Where possible, use text messages or data services and preserve your battery by reducing screen brightness and closing unnecessary apps.

Preparation, awareness and a calm response can make a critical difference during an earthquake.