Earthquake Safety & Response

Safety guide · 6-minute read

Earthquake safety and response covers what to do before, during and after an earthquake: securing heavy furniture and water in advance, dropping, covering and holding on the moment shaking starts, and checking for gas leaks, structural damage and aftershocks once it stops. This guide walks through each stage in turn.

During the shaking: Drop, Cover, Hold On

The single most important response, recommended worldwide, is Drop, Cover and Hold On:

• Drop to your hands and knees before the shaking knocks you down.
• Cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk. If there's none nearby, get next to an interior wall away from windows and cover your head with your arms.
• Hold On to your shelter (or your head and neck) until the shaking stops, moving with it if it shifts.

Do not run outside during shaking — most injuries come from falling objects and broken glass, and doorways are no safer than anywhere else in a modern building. If you're in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow. If you're driving, pull over away from bridges and power lines and stay in the car.

The few seconds you may get

You'll often feel a sharp jolt (the P-wave) a moment before the stronger rolling arrives. In some regions an early-warning system such as ShakeAlert may push an alert to phones seconds before the shaking — enough time to drop and take cover, stop a car, or step back from a stove. Use those seconds to protect yourself, not to run. Remember: our tracker shows quakes after they happen and is not a warning system.

After the shaking stops

• Expect aftershocks. Be ready to Drop, Cover and Hold On again — see aftershocks explained.
• Check yourself and others for injuries before anything else.
• Watch for hazards: gas leaks (a smell of gas → turn it off, get out, don't use switches or flames), damaged wiring, broken glass and unstable shelves.
• If you're near the coast and felt a strong or long quake, move to high ground immediately — don't wait for an official tsunami alert.
• Use text or messaging rather than calls to keep networks clear, and follow official channels for instructions.

Before it happens: a simple checklist

• Secure tall furniture, water heaters and heavy items to walls.
• Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed; know where your gas shut-off is.
• Store a few days of water, food, medication and a first-aid kit.
• Agree a family meeting point and an out-of-area contact.
• Practise Drop, Cover and Hold On so it's automatic.

More: Aftershocks explained · What is an earthquake · The magnitude scale.