Earthquakes

What Should You Do?

You will never have warning that an earthquake is coming. To make sure you and your house are prepared, you should:

1. Secure cupboards and bookcases to the wall using bolts. Also try to keep heavy objects on lower shelves so they won’t fall on you during an earthquake.

2. Make sure your water heater is secured to a wall. That way, it won’t fall during an earthquake and hurt someone or start a fire.

3. If you live in an area that has a lot of earthquakes, make sure that your home is bolted to your foundation. Although this might be expensive, it could save you from a lot of damage to your house during an earthquake. Learn more.

4. Have a disaster plan. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to be prepared. Depending on the disaster, you might have to stay inside your house, or evacuate your home. It’s important to have an evacuation plan, but emergency preparedness is so much more. Use the steps below to make sure you’re prepared for emergencies.
Step1. Make and practice your emergency plan
Make Your Emergency PlanThe first part of being prepared is to make an emergency plan. You should make a plan for the places were you spend a lot of time, like home, work or school.

Planning for an emergency is easy to do. The key is getting started. You never know where you’ll be when a disaster hits, so make more than one plan. Use our guides below to be ready no matter where you are.

At Home, Start by figuring out an escape route. Draw a floor plan of your house and draw two exits for each room. Then, pick two places to meet: somewhere just outside your home, and a place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t go back home. Depending on the disaster, you will either have to make shelter inside your home (for example, an earthquake) or evacuate (for example, a fire).
Here are a few basics that every family should know:
- How to shut off your gas, water and electricity. Next time a repair person comes over, ask him or her to show you how.
- Where your local fire and police stations are located.
- First Aid and CPR skills. Many community organizations like the Red Cross offer these classes, so find out where you can sign up. You could save someone’s life.
- How to make shelter, either in your home or outside.
Make sure everyone in your family is part of the plan—and don’t forget about your pets! Once you come up with a plan, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your neighbors. When it comes to crunch time, your neighborhood will be like an extended family. If emergency help can’t reach you right away, they could help save your life. Think about your neighbors’ special needs too.

At Work, If you work in an office, your employer should already have an emergency response plan. It’s the law! This should be a written plan that outlines leaders, where to go, how to shut down the office, and an escape route. If you haven’t learned it already, you can ask to see it. Listening to the radio will give you the most up-to-date information, so you might want to get a small radio for your desk. If you want to keep some emergency supplies at work, check this list for some ideas.

At School, If an emergency happens while your child is at school, you can usually get the best information from your local radio or TV station. Know how to get in touch with your child at school so you can pick him or her up safely. It helps to have a friend or family member who can pick up your child if you can’t. Also make sure your child’s emergency card is updated. Just like you do at home, make sure your child knows who to call in case of an emergency. He/she should have your home phone number memorized, as well as the number of a family friend or relative.

In Your Car, If you find yourself in a disaster situation while driving, you should try to get to the closest building you know, such as your house, office or other familiar place. If that’s not possible, pull your car to the side of the road, turn off your engine and close all windows and vents. Try to find a shady or sheltered place, like a bridge. Keep your radio on to listen for the latest information about road closings or detours. Disaster response officials will tell you if it’s safe to continue driving.
What should I keep in my car?
If you run into a disaster while you’re driving, your car will become your shelter. In order to stay safe, it’s a good idea to have disaster supplies in your trunk or backseat. Here are some of the essentials:
- Flashlight
- Blanket (a mylar space blanket costs just a few dollars and will keep you very warm)
- First aid kit
- Duct tape
- Water (at least one gallon)
- Road flares

Write a Contact ListAnother part of creating an emergency plan is writing a contact list. That way, you know who to contact in case of emergency. Find out who to include in your emergency contact list.
Practice Your PlanFinally, make sure you practice your plan.

Prepare Your Home, Do you live near the ocean? In an earthquake zone? Maybe you live in a place where tornadoes often hit. No matter where you live, there are steps you can take to prepare your home. No matter what the disaster, there are many steps you can take to make your home safe.
Put up Emergency Contact Info, Install Alarms and Detectors, Check for Fire Safety, Eliminate Hazards, Prepare your windows and doors, Get Insurance

Get Emergency supplies for your house

Prepare a "go bag" in case of evacuation

Here are some tips of what to do during an earthquake:
Do NOT go outside. You could get hurt from falling glass or parts of buildings. If you are outside, stay away from buildings and power lines. Take cover under a desk, table, or other large and stable piece of furniture. Hold on to it. Or, stand in a doorway and brace yourself. Stay away from windows, heavy furniture, appliances, mirrors, pictures, and anything else that could fall and hurt you. Also stay away from fireplaces. You could lose your balance and hurt yourself on the fire. If you are driving when an earthquake happens, stop the car if it’s safe. Stay inside your car until the earthquake stops, and don’t drive near bridges or tunnels. Try not to stop by power lines, light posts, signs, or trees. These could fall and hurt you. Stay alert for falling objects. Most people get injured by falling objects during an earthquake, not by the shaking itself. Do NOT use matches, lighters, or candles. If there is a broken gas line, you could spark a fire or explosion. Do NOT use elevators. There might be a power outage due to the earthquake, and you could get stuck in the elevator. After the earthquake stops, here’s what you should do:
Check yourself and others for injuries. Call Police/SAR if you or someone else needs immediate medical assistance. If the phone lines are not working, try using a cell phone. Check to see if electric, water, and gas lines are damaged. If they are, shut off the valves. If you smell gas, find out what do to. Stay away from damaged buildings and areas. You could get hurt by broken glass and falling objects. Listen to the radio for more information.