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

Unlike hurricanes or tornadoes, earthquakes strike with no warning at all — there's no watch, no siren, no minutes to prepare. That makes advance planning and knowing the right in-the-moment response the two things that actually matter.

Before: get your space and supplies ready

• Secure heavy furniture. Bookshelves, tall dressers, and water heaters should be strapped or anchored to wall studs — tipping furniture is one of the most common sources of injury.
• Know your safe spots in each room ahead of time: under sturdy tables or desks, or against an interior wall away from windows, mirrors, and anything that could fall.
• Build a basic supply kit: water (one gallon per person per day, at least three days' worth), non-perishable food, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, any needed medications, and a battery or hand-crank radio, since power and cell service can go down.
• Agree on a family plan: an out-of-area contact to check in with, and a meeting spot if you're separated when it happens.

During: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

This is the sequence emergency management agencies teach because it's the fastest, safest response, and it works whether you're at home, at work, or out in public:

1. Drop to your hands and knees before the shaking knocks you down.
2. Cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk. If nothing is nearby, cover against an interior wall, away from windows and anything that could fall.
3. Hold on to whatever you're sheltering under until the shaking fully stops, and be ready to move with it if it shifts.

A few situational notes:

• If you're in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow rather than trying to move.
• If you're outdoors, move away from buildings, streetlights, and power lines, then drop and cover in the open.
• If you're driving, pull over away from bridges, overpasses, and buildings, and stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on until shaking stops.
• Don't run outside during shaking — most earthquake injuries happen from falling objects and debris near exits and exterior walls, not from the ground movement itself.

After: check before you move on

• Expect aftershocks, which can happen minutes, hours, or even days later, and can be strong enough to cause additional damage.
• Check yourself and people near you for injuries before checking your property.
• Look and smell for hazards before moving freely through your home: gas odors, damaged gas lines, downed power lines, cracked walls or foundations, and broken glass.
• If you smell gas, leave the area and shut off the main gas valve from outside if you're able to do so safely, then report it rather than re-entering.
• Keep phone calls brief so lines stay open for emergency use, and use text messages to check in with family when possible.

The takeaway

Earthquakes don't give you time to react in the moment — the preparation happens beforehand, and the response is the same short sequence every time: drop, cover, and hold on. Anchoring heavy furniture, knowing your safe spots, and keeping a basic supply kit on hand cover most of what actually matters, so the moment shaking starts, you're reacting instead of deciding.

Since severe weather season often overlaps with other hazards, it's also worth reviewing our hurricane preparedness checklist if you live somewhere both risks apply.

For region-specific guidance and printable checklists, FEMA's Ready.gov earthquake guide is a reliable source to bookmark before you need it.