Earthquake Preparedness: What to Do Before, During, and After the Shaking Starts

Earthquake preparedness is different from almost every other disaster category because there is no warning. No watch, no advisory, no time to decide. The shaking starts and you either know what to do or you don't.

According to USGS data, the continental United States experiences thousands of earthquakes every year. Most are too small to feel. But the USGS 2018 National Seismic Hazard Model estimates that nearly half of Americans live in areas exposed to potentially damaging ground shaking. That's not just California — it includes the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the central U.S. along the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and parts of the East Coast.

The window to act is measured in seconds. What you do in those seconds depends entirely on what you've already decided.

What You're Actually at Risk From

This is where most people's mental model breaks down.

The popular image of earthquake danger is building collapse — the dramatic pancaking of structures seen in news footage from major overseas disasters. In modern American, Canadian, and Australian construction, that scenario is far less common than the media suggests.

Studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes in the U.S. over the last several decades indicate that you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects — TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases — than to die in a collapsed building.

That changes the preparation calculus entirely. The priority isn't escaping the building. It's surviving the objects inside it.

FEMA's earthquake safety checklist identifies the most common household hazards:

• Unsecured bookcases, shelving units, and cabinets
• Water heaters not strapped to the wall
• Heavy items stored on high shelves
• Unsecured refrigerators and large appliances
• Hanging pictures and mirrors above beds and seating
• Unsecured computers, monitors, and televisions

All of these are fixable before an earthquake happens. Most cost very little. None require professional help.

Before: Securing Your Home and Your Plan

The most effective earthquake preparation happens weeks or months before any shaking starts. It breaks into two categories: physical mitigation and planning.

Physical mitigation — high priority:

Strap your water heater. An unstrapped water heater is a gas leak and fire risk in any significant earthquake. In many states, strapping is legally required for new installations. If yours isn't strapped, a hardware store earthquake strap kit costs $20–$35 / €18–€32 / AUD $30–$55 and installs in under an hour.

Anchor tall furniture. Bookcases, dressers, filing cabinets, and shelving units should be anchored to wall studs with L-brackets or furniture anchor straps. Prioritize anything in bedrooms, children's rooms, and main living spaces. A basic furniture anchor kit costs $10–$20 / €9–€18 / AUD $15–$30 per unit.

Relocate heavy objects. Move heavy items from high shelves to lower ones. Heavy cookware, large decorative objects, bulk storage — all of it belongs below waist height.

Secure the TV and electronics. Museum putty (non-damaging adhesive) works for smaller electronics. TV anchor straps attach to the back of the television and the wall or entertainment unit.

Install cabinet latches. Simple cabinet latches prevent kitchen and bathroom cabinets from flying open during shaking, keeping glass, crockery, and chemicals contained.

Planning — what matters:

Establish a household meeting point. If family members are separated when an earthquake hits — at work, school, or elsewhere — you need a pre-agreed local meeting point and an out-of-state contact that everyone can reach to relay location information. Local lines often jam after a major quake; calls to an out-of-state number are frequently more reliable.

Know your gas shutoff. If you smell gas after an earthquake, the main gas shutoff valve at the meter needs to be turned off immediately. Know where it is and keep a wrench nearby — the shutoff is typically a quarter-turn of a flat valve. Once turned off, do not turn it back on yourself. Leave that to the gas company.

Identify safe spots in every room. Before an earthquake happens, know where you'd go in each room you spend time in — which table to get under, which interior wall to move against, which areas to avoid. This is a 10-minute exercise that removes decision-making from the most critical seconds.

During: Drop, Cover, Hold On — and What Not to Do

Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that Drop, Cover, and Hold On is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.

Drop onto your hands and knees. This prevents being knocked over and lets you move if needed.

Cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby. If not, against an interior wall away from windows, or flat on the floor with your arms covering your head and neck.

Hold On until the shaking stops. Do not try to move to a different location while the ground is moving.

Three things widely believed to be safe that are not:

The doorway myth. Many people still think getting in a doorway is safe, however this is out-of-date advice. Doorways are not stronger than any other part of the house, do not provide protection from falling or flying objects, and will not be a safe space in the rare case of building collapse. Get under a table instead.

Running outside. Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. Stay inside.

The "triangle of life." This widely circulated advice — crouching next to large furniture rather than under it — has been thoroughly discredited by FEMA, the American Red Cross, and international rescue organizations. It is not supported by evidence and contradicts the consensus of every major emergency management body.

If you're in bed: Stay there. Cover your head and neck with a pillow. The risk of getting up and stepping on broken glass or being struck by falling objects is greater than the risk of staying put.

If you're outdoors: Move away from buildings, power lines, and trees. Drop, cover your head and neck, and hold on.

If you're driving: Pull over away from overpasses, power lines, and buildings. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on until shaking stops.

After: The First Hour Is the Most Dangerous

Surviving the shaking is step one. What happens in the first hour after often determines how the next several days go.

Stay inside initially. Wait for shaking to fully stop before moving. Aftershocks follow major earthquakes — sometimes within minutes, sometimes hours. The first aftershock can be nearly as strong as the main event.

Check for gas leaks first. If you smell gas — leave the building immediately, leave the door open, don't use any electrical switches or open flames, and call the gas company from outside or from a neighbor's home. This is not optional. Gas leaks after earthquakes cause fires and explosions in damaged structures.

Check for injuries before damage. Tend to injured household members before assessing property damage. Use your first aid kit. Don't move anyone with a suspected spinal injury unless leaving them is more dangerous than moving them.

Open cabinet doors carefully. Pressurized or shifted contents can fall when opened. Stand to the side, not in front, and open slowly.

Check water and food. After a major earthquake, check local emergency management channels for boil water advisories before using tap water. Fill bathtubs and containers immediately if you have reason to believe water service may be interrupted — once pressure drops, that window closes.

Inspect your home before re-entering if evacuated. Look for: cracks in the foundation, chimney damage, visible structural distortion of walls or roof lines. If any are present, stay out and contact your local building inspection office before re-entering. A structurally compromised building is not safer than the outdoors.

Expect disruption. After a significant regional earthquake, FEMA advises preparing to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours and potentially up to two weeks. Emergency services will be overwhelmed. Supply chains will be disrupted. The preparation you've already done is what carries you through this window.

The ShakeAlert System — Early Warning in the Western U.S.

USGS operates the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System across California, Oregon, and Washington. The system detects the initial, less-damaging P-wave of an earthquake and sends alerts to cell phones and connected devices before the stronger shaking arrives.

The warning time is short — typically 5–60 seconds depending on your distance from the epicenter. That's enough to drop and cover, pull over a vehicle, stop a medical procedure, or move away from a hazard.

If you're in a covered area, make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on your phone. California residents can also download the MyShake app for additional early warning functionality.

Outside the western U.S., no comparable early warning system currently covers the New Madrid Seismic Zone or the East Coast — reinforcing why the physical preparation and practiced response matter more than any alert system.

Sources: USGS: What Should I Do During an Earthquake? | FEMA Earthquake Safety Checklist B-526 (2023) | ShakeOut.org: Drop, Cover, and Hold On | Earthquake Country Alliance: Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety | USGS ShakeAlert Early Warning System | CDC: Earthquake Preparedness | FEMA P-530: Earthquake Safety at Home.