Read this first
- This is life-safety guidance following current USGS advice. Confirm against current USGS, Ready.gov, and Red Cross guidance before you rely on it. Supply amounts here are kept general on purpose — set exact figures from Ready.gov.
What to do
Before it shakes
- 1Secure your space — put heavy or breakable things on low shelves; fasten bookcases, cabinets, and the water heater; move beds away from windows.
- 2Make a plan and a kit — a family communication/meeting plan, plus water for each person for an extended period, a flashlight, first-aid kit, food, a whistle, and a wrench to shut off gas or water.
When it shakes
- 1DROP to your hands and knees before the quake drops you.
- 2COVER your head and neck under a sturdy desk or table; if none, crawl to an inside wall away from windows and shield your head and neck.
- 3HOLD ON to your shelter (move with it if it shifts) until the shaking fully stops.
- 4If outdoors — move to an open area away from buildings, trees, and power lines, then drop and cover your head.
- 5If driving — pull over clear of overpasses, wires, and trees; stay in the car until it stops.
After
- 1Put on sturdy shoes, check for injuries, and give first aid; expect aftershocks and be ready to Drop-Cover-Hold On again.
- 2If you smell gas, get out — don't flip switches or light flames — shut off and report it; stay away from downed lines and damaged buildings.
- 3Near the coast, a strong quake can precede a tsunami — move to high ground without waiting for an official warning.
Common mistakes & safety
- Drop, Cover, and Hold On — not run, not doorway. Running during shaking is how people fall or get hit by glass; a modern doorway offers no protection.
- Stay where you are. Indoors, stay in and cover; outdoors, get to the open. Most injuries happen from moving during the shaking.
- Aftershocks are expected and can finish weakened structures — don't rush back into damaged buildings.
- Gas leaks after a quake: if you smell gas, don't operate switches, appliances, or open flame — a spark can ignite it; get out and report it.
- Downed power lines and damaged buildings are deadly — assume every downed line is live and keep clear.
Going deeper
- Drop, Cover, Hold On is now taught in dozens of countries and drilled every October in the Great ShakeOut — the same three words work at home, at school, and at camp.
- Why not the doorway? The myth comes from old adobe houses where the frame sometimes survived; in a modern building the doorway is no stronger, and you're exposed to swinging doors and flying objects.
- Secure the space first. In most quakes it's not the building that hurts you — it's the TV, the bookshelf, and the water heater. Fastening them is the cheapest earthquake insurance there is.
Official source
What should I do during an earthquake? — USGS →Drop-Cover-Hold On and the before/during/after guidance are from USGS. Confirm supply quantities and tsunami guidance against Ready.gov / USGS. First aid is covered on the first-aid pages; no medications or dosages appear here.