The single most effective thing you can do during an earthquake is Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and debris, not building collapses, and getting low to the ground under sturdy shelter protects you from the most common dangers. But surviving an earthquake involves more than just the shaking itself. What you do in the minutes, hours, and days afterward matters just as much.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On
When the ground starts shaking, drop onto your hands and knees immediately. This position keeps you from being knocked down and lets you crawl to shelter. Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it and hold on to one of its legs with your free hand so you can move with it if it shifts. If there’s no furniture nearby, crawl next to an interior wall, stay on your knees, and bend over to protect your vital organs. Use both arms and hands to shield your head and neck.
Stay in this position until the shaking completely stops. Earthquakes can last anywhere from a few seconds to over a minute, and the intensity can surge unexpectedly. Resist the urge to run outside or stand in a doorway. Both put you at greater risk from falling glass, light fixtures, and debris.
You may have heard of something called the “Triangle of Life,” which suggests lying next to large objects rather than under them. The U.S. Geological Survey calls this a misguided idea. It’s based on observations from a single earthquake in Turkey and doesn’t apply to buildings constructed in the United States or other countries with modern building codes. The American Red Cross still recommends Drop, Cover, and Hold On as the safest response.
Specific Situations During Shaking
If you’re in bed, stay there. Roll face down and cover your head and neck with your pillow. Getting up in the dark to find a table puts you at risk of stepping on broken glass or being hit by objects that have fallen off shelves.
If you’re driving, pull over to a clear spot away from overpasses, bridges, power lines, and buildings. Set your parking brake and stay inside the car. The vehicle’s frame offers decent protection from falling debris. Once the shaking stops, proceed cautiously and watch for road damage, downed power lines, and broken bridges.
If you’re outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires. Drop to the ground and protect your head. Most injuries in outdoor areas come from facades, bricks, and glass falling off structures.
What to Do in the First Minutes After
Once the shaking stops, check yourself for injuries before helping others. Put on sturdy shoes before walking anywhere, since floors are often covered in broken glass and sharp debris. If you’re in a damaged building, exit carefully and move to an open area.
If you smell natural gas or hear a hissing sound, evacuate the area immediately. Do not light a match, flip a light switch, or start a car nearby. Any spark can ignite a gas leak. Call 911 and your gas company from a safe distance. Do not try to shut off the gas valve yourself or repair damaged pipes. In California, utility regulations restrict valve operation to the gas company or its certified contractors, and similar rules exist in many other states.
Check your home for structural damage before re-entering. Look for cracks in walls, shifted foundations, and damaged chimneys. If anything looks unstable, stay out until the building can be inspected.
Aftershocks Can Last for Weeks
Aftershocks begin almost immediately and can continue for weeks or even months. According to the USGS, their frequency follows a predictable pattern: there are roughly ten times as many aftershocks on the first day as there are on the tenth day. The rate decreases over time, but here’s the critical detail: the strength of aftershocks does not decrease. A powerful aftershock can strike days or weeks later with enough force to damage buildings already weakened by the initial quake.
Each time you feel an aftershock, perform the same Drop, Cover, and Hold On response. Treat every aftershock as its own earthquake. If you’re in a weakened structure, aftershocks can cause partial or full collapses that the original quake did not.
Coastal Areas and Tsunami Risk
If you’re near the coast during an earthquake, a tsunami is a real possibility. The National Weather Service warns that official alerts may not arrive in time. Natural warning signs you can act on immediately include feeling a strong or unusually long earthquake, seeing a sudden rise or dramatic retreat of ocean water, or hearing a loud roar from the ocean.
If you notice any of these signs, move inland or to high ground right away. Do not wait for an official warning. Tsunamis can arrive within minutes of a nearby earthquake. Head for ground at least 100 feet above sea level or two miles inland if the terrain is flat. Stay away from the coast until authorities confirm the threat has passed, since tsunamis often arrive in multiple waves over several hours.
Trapped Under Debris
If you become trapped, cover your mouth and nose with a piece of clothing to filter dust. Do not shout unless you hear rescuers nearby, since inhaling dust and debris particles can cause serious breathing problems. Instead, tap on a pipe or wall, or use your phone to make noise. If you have cell service, text your location to emergency contacts, as texts often go through when calls cannot.
Prolonged compression of limbs under heavy debris can cause a condition called crush syndrome. When muscle tissue is compressed for an extended period, it begins to break down. The real danger comes when the pressure is released and toxic byproducts flood the bloodstream, potentially causing organ failure. This is why rescue teams follow specific medical protocols before and during extraction. If someone near you is pinned under heavy debris, call for professional help rather than attempting to free them yourself.
Preparing Before It Happens
Survival starts well before the shaking does. Ready.gov recommends storing one gallon of water per person per day for several days, along with a supply of non-perishable food. A practical target is a three-day minimum, though a two-week supply is better for a major earthquake that could disrupt infrastructure for an extended period.
Your kit should include a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a first aid kit, medications you take regularly, copies of important documents in a waterproof container, cash in small bills, and a whistle for signaling rescuers. Keep a pair of sturdy shoes and a flashlight near your bed.
If you live on the West Coast, download the MyShake app, which is connected to the USGS ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System. It can deliver alerts seconds before shaking reaches your location. Even a few seconds of warning is enough time to move away from a window, pull over on the highway, or get under a desk. Sign up for your city or county’s emergency alert system as well, since these deliver localized information about evacuations, shelter locations, and infrastructure damage.
Secure Your Home
Most earthquake injuries at home come from objects that fall, break, or become projectiles. Strap your water heater to wall studs. Secure tall bookshelves, dressers, and entertainment centers with anti-tip brackets. Move heavy objects to lower shelves. Use museum putty or quake-hold gel to keep items on high shelves from sliding off. Install latches on kitchen cabinets to prevent dishes and glasses from flying out.
Know how to shut off your utilities. Locate your gas meter, water main, and electrical panel now, not during an emergency. Keep an adjustable wrench near your gas meter. Identify the safest spots in each room of your house, the places with sturdy furniture and no large windows, heavy mirrors, or unsecured shelving. When the shaking starts, you won’t have time to evaluate your options. You’ll move to wherever you’ve already planned to go.