The Challenge of Earthquake Preparedness

Unlike hurricanes or floods, earthquakes provide no advance warning. There is no "earthquake season" to track, no forecast to follow. The shaking begins, and you have seconds to react. That's why earthquake preparedness is almost entirely about what you do before one strikes — the habits you build, the supplies you store, and the structural precautions you take in advance.

Before: Making Your Home and Family Ready

Secure Your Space

A significant portion of earthquake injuries come not from the shaking itself but from falling objects and furniture. Walk through your home and identify hazards:

  • Anchor tall furniture — bookshelves, dressers, water heaters — to wall studs using furniture straps
  • Secure heavy items on high shelves; move them lower or store them in closed cabinets
  • Use museum putty or earthquake gel to secure breakables and objects on shelves
  • Know your home's gas shutoff valve location and keep the right wrench nearby
  • Check your chimney — older chimneys can collapse inward, damaging the roof and blocking escape routes

Build Your 72-Hour Kit

Post-earthquake, local infrastructure can take days to restore. Your kit should include water, food, first aid supplies, a hand-crank radio, flashlights, and sturdy shoes stored near your bed. Broken glass is a major post-quake hazard — being able to put on shoes immediately matters.

Know Your Home's Structural Risk

Older homes — particularly those built before modern seismic codes — carry higher risk. In many regions, homes built before the 1970s may have a "soft story" (an open ground floor like a garage) or unbolted foundations. Consult a licensed structural engineer or your local building department about retrofitting options. Many cities offer subsidized programs.

Identify Safe Spots in Each Room

Before an earthquake happens, mentally note the safest locations in each room — away from windows, heavy furniture, and ceiling light fixtures. This habit means you won't waste precious seconds thinking when shaking begins.

During: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

This is the protocol recommended by emergency management professionals worldwide, and it saves lives:

  1. DROP to your hands and knees. This prevents being knocked down and keeps you mobile.
  2. COVER your head and neck with one arm. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, get under it.
  3. HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you're under a table, hold onto it and move with it.

Do NOT:

  • Run outside during shaking — most injuries happen when people try to move during the quake
  • Stand in a doorway — doorframes offer no special protection in modern homes
  • Hide under your bed — it won't protect you from ceiling collapse

If you're outdoors, move away from buildings, power lines, and trees. Drop and cover until shaking stops. If you're driving, pull over away from overpasses and bridges, stop, and stay inside with your seatbelt on.

After: The Critical First Hours

Check for Injuries and Hazards

Once shaking stops, check yourself and those around you for injuries. Do not move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger. Then assess your environment:

  • Smell for gas — if you detect it, open windows and leave immediately; shut off gas at the meter
  • Look for structural damage before moving through the building
  • Wear shoes — glass and debris make bare feet extremely dangerous
  • Check for small fires and extinguish them if safe to do so

Expect Aftershocks

Aftershocks can begin immediately and continue for days or weeks. Some aftershocks are strong enough to collapse structures already weakened by the main quake. After evacuating, do not re-enter a building until it's been inspected and cleared.

Get Informed

Turn on your emergency radio. Do not use the phone for non-emergency calls — keep lines clear for first responders. Check on neighbors, especially elderly or disabled individuals. Follow official instructions for shelter locations and road conditions.

A Note on Earthquake Early Warning Systems

Some seismically active regions now have public earthquake early warning systems (such as ShakeAlert in the western United States). Sign up for your area's alert system and enable emergency alerts on your phone. These systems can provide seconds to tens of seconds of warning — enough time to drop and cover before shaking arrives.

Preparedness doesn't prevent earthquakes — but it absolutely changes outcomes. The steps above can be taken this weekend. Don't wait for the next one to remind you.