what to do if there is an earthquake

What to Do During an Earthquake

• Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay inside. If you're outside, stay outside.
• If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). ...
• If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. ...
• Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. ...

Full Answer

How to stay safe during an earthquake?

Safe during an earthquake - Tips

• Have an earthquake readiness plan.
• Consult a professional to learn how to make your home sturdier, such as bolting bookcases to wall studs, installing strong latches on cupboards, and strapping the water heater to wall ...
• Locate a place in each room of the house that you can go to in case of an earthquake. ...

More items...

What should I do during an earthquake?

What to Do During an Earthquake

• Stay calm! ...
• If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). ...
• If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. ...
• Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. ...

More items...

What are the 7 steps to earthquake safety?

from the next damaging earthquake. More information for each step is available at EarthquakeCountry.org/sevensteps Step 1: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items. Step 2: Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency. Step 3: Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations. Step 4: Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening

What are the safety precautions for an earthquake?

• Be aware that smoke alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.
• If you smell gas, get out of the house and move as far away as possible.
• Before you leave any building check to make sure that there is no debris from the building that could fall on you.

What is the best thing to do during an earthquake?

Stay inside. Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture. Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects. Hold onto the object that you are under so that you remain covered.

Where is the safest place during an earthquake?

Don't run during the shaking. Drop, Cover and Hold under a desk or table. If there's no table around, find the nearest safe place beside an inside wall or lower than furnishings. If outside and in an open area, sit down and cover your head with your arms.

Do and don'ts in earthquake?

If indoors Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, (such as lighting fixtures or furniture). Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall.

What are the 5 things to do before an earthquake?

Personal PreparednessBe sure to identify safe places in each room of your home.Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with each member of your household.Make or purchase an earthquake safety kit.Sign up for an earthquake shake alert for your mobile phone.Keep closed toe shoes by your bed.More items...•

What are the 5 things to do after an earthquake?

What to Do After an EarthquakeCheck yourself and others for injuries. ... Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. ... Turn on the radio. ... Stay out of damaged buildings.Be careful around broken glass and debris. ... Be careful of chimneys (they may fall on you).Stay away from beaches. ... Stay away from damaged areas.More items...

Can you hear an earthquake before it happens?

I was surprised to hear that earthquakes travel many times faster than sound because you always hear the boom of an earthquake before it hits. The speed of sound in air is 330 meters per second.

What are the 7 Steps to earthquake Safety?

Seven Steps to Earthquake SafetyStep 1 - Identify Hazards in the Home: ... Step 2 - Create Your Disaster Plan.Step 3 - Create Disaster Supply Kits. ... Step 4 - Identify Your Home's Potential Weaknesses. ... Step 5 - Drop, Cover, and Hold On. ... Step 6 - After the Shaking Stops Check for Damages and Injuries Needing Immediate Attention.More items...

What are the 3 basic safety actions to do during an earthquake?

SurviveStep 5: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Drop, cover, and hold on when the earth shakes.Step 6: Improve Safety. Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and preventing further damage.

What are the 5 things not to do during an earthquake?

5 things to avoid if an earthquake strikesDon't wait to have an earthquake plan. ... Don't tie up phone lines during an earthquake. ... Don't leave household items unsecured. ... Don't run outside during an earthquake. ... Don't turn on the gas after a quake.

What are 4 tips to survive an earthquake?

If an earthquake happens, protect yourself right away: Set your parking brake. If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow. If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings. If you are inside, stay and do not run outside and avoid doorways.

What's the first thing you should do during an earthquake at home?

During an earthquakeStay inside.Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture.Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects.Hold on to the object that you are under so that you remain covered.More items...

How do you prepare yourself during an earthquake?

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. HOLD ON to any sturdy shelter until the shaking stops. DO NOT run outside! STAY where you are until the shaking stops.

Is a car a safe place during an earthquake?

Your car is a safe place to be during an earthquake, as long as it is not in the path of anything that could be dangerous, like a bridge, power line, or pillar. Turn on the Radio: During an earthquake, instructions from the government or local authorities are broadcast over the radio.

Is it safer to live on a hill during earthquake?

Hillside homes are by far the most dangerous demographic of single-family residential structures, as measured in recent California earthquake fatalities. If you live in a hillside home, you are not necessarily in danger during an earthquake. Your structure is just more likely than other homes to be dangerous.

Is underground the safest place during an earthquake?

According to that blurb, tunnels are “some of the safest places to be during an earthquake.” Jean-Philippe Avouac, geology professor at Caltech, more or less agrees. “Structures which are underground are less vulnerable to shaking than structures at the surface,” he says.

What is the place least likely to have an earthquake?

Antarctica has the least earthquakes of any continent, but small earthquakes can occur anywhere in the World. Our Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has M3+ earthquake counts for each state from 2010 to 2015.

What not to do in an earthquake

There's a lot of misinformation out there, and it's understandable to be confused. Now that you know what to do, make sure you also know what not t...

If You Are In Your Car Or Driving and an Earthquake Strikes

Follow the advice from our ShakeOut friends:- Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake.- Avoid overpasses, bridges, power...

What to Do During An Earthquake If You Are Outside

What if you’re outside? In that case, get away from trees and power lines (both of which may topple), as well as buildings (which likely won’t fall...

If You Are Inside A Home Or Building during an Earthquake

First things first: if you feel an earthquake, resist the urge to run outside. Here in California, modern buildings are designed to withstand large...

What to do if you are inside during an earthquake?

If you are inside, stay inside. DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake. You are less likely to be injured if you stay where you are. To reduce your chances of being hurt, take the following actions: If possible, within the few seconds before shaking intensifies, quickly move away from glass, hanging objects, bookcases, ...

How to protect yourself from an earthquake?

Know what to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during an earthquake. In most situations, you can protect yourself if you immediately DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON. Drop. Cover. Hold on. In most situations, you can protect yourself if you immediately: DROP down onto your hands and knees before the earthquake knocks you down. ...

How to stop a car from shaking?

Move your car to the shoulder or curb, away from utility poles, overhead wires, and under- or overpasses. Stay in the car and set the parking brake. A car may jiggle violently on its springs, but it is a good place to stay until the shaking stops. Turn on the radio for emergency broadcast information.

What to do if you can't move from a bed?

If you are unable to move from a bed or chair, protect yourself from falling objects by covering up with blankets and pillows. If you are outside, go to an open area away from trees, telephone poles, and buildings, and stay there. .

How to protect your head from a broken glass?

If available nearby, grab something to shield your head and face from falling debris and broken glass. If you are in the kitchen, quickly turn off the stove and take cover at the first sign of shaking. If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.

How to cover your head and neck?

COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) underneath a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

How far above sea level should you evacuate?

Move inland 2 miles (3 kilometers) or to land that is at least 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level immediately. Don’t wait for officials to issue a warning.

How to protect yourself from the 1994 Northridge earthquake?

Secure heavy furniture and appliances – More than half of the injuries associated with the 1994 Northridge earthquake were caused by toppling objects. One way to protect yourself is to look around your home or workplace and make sure heavy furniture, such as bookcases and beds, as well as appliances, such as water heaters and televisions, ...

How to survive an earthquake?

The safest steps to take in the middle of an earthquake depend on where you are: 1 Indoors – Get under a desk or table, cover your head and neck with one arm or hand, and use your other arm or hand to hang on (drop, cover, and hold on). If no shelter is available, move into a hallway or against an inside wall. If you use a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking subsides. Stay away from windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances, and do not use elevators. If you are in bed when an earthquake starts, do not get out of bed. Instead, lie face down to protect vital organs, and cover your head and neck with a pillow. 2 Outdoors – Quickly find an open space away from buildings, power lines, and anything else that can topple on you. If you are driving, safely pull over and stop, and stay in your car until the shaking stops. Do not stop under bridges, overpasses, trees, or anything else that can strike your vehicle. If you are in a mountainous area, watch out for falling rocks and landslides, and if you are near the ocean during a severe earthquake, be mindful of tsunamis.

What to have in an emergency kit for an earthquake?

Gather supplies – Have ample water and an emergency kit ready in your home, as well as smaller go-bags in your car, workplace, and any other places you might be when an earthquake hits. Your emergency supplies should be tailored for your specific needs, but common items include water, a first-aid kit, sturdy shoes, a portable radio, snacks, and emergency cash. FEMA and The Earthquake Country Alliance provide detailed checklists of items to include in an emergency kit.

What to do if there is no shelter?

If no shelter is available, move into a hallway or against an inside wall. If you use a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking subsides. Stay away from windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances, and do not use elevators. If you are in bed when an earthquake starts, do not ...

What should be included in an emergency kit?

Your emergency supplies should be tailored for your specific needs, but common items include water, a first-aid kit, sturdy shoes, a portable radio, snacks, and emergency cash. FEMA and The Earthquake Country Alliance provide detailed checklists of items to include in an emergency kit.

How to stay safe during a quake?

Stay alert to new or continuing hazards. Conduct a safety check – Once you are in a safe place, check yourself and others for injuries, and call for help if needed. Look around to make sure you are not in danger from other hazards caused by the quake, such as gas leaks or fire.

How to protect your feet from a quake?

Wear boots or sturdy shoes to protect your feet from broken glass and debris. Get help, if needed – If you are trapped, cover your mouth, nose, and eyes against dust. Send a text and make noise to alert rescuers to your location. Be prepared for aftershocks – Aftershocks can be as strong as the original quake.

What is the San Francisco earthquake handbook?

Putting down roots in earthquake country: Your handbook for the San Francisco Bay region. This handbook provides information about the threat posed by earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay region and explains how you can prepare for, survive, and recover from these inevitable events.

What counties were included in the earthquake study?

The study comprised eight counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.

What was the magnitude of the 2011 Oklahoma earthquake?

House damage in central Oklahoma from the magnitude 5.6 earthquake on Nov. 6, 2011. Research conducted by USGS geophysicist Elizabeth Cochran and her university-based colleagues suggests that this earthquake was induced by injection into deep disposal wells in the Wilzetta North field.

What caused the collapse of the upper floor in Los Gatos?

Failure of unreinforced brick masonry caused collapse of the upper floor in downtown Los Gatos.

What is the USGS natural disaster response?

Geological Survey (USGS) Natural Hazards Response is to ensure that the disaster response community has access to timely, accurate, and relevant geospatial products, imagery, and services during and after an emergency event.

How many people died in the 2007 earthquake?

At least 709 deaths resulted from earthquake activity worldwide in 2007, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and confirmed by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Date published: February 10, 2005.

What are natural hazards?

Natural hazards threaten the safety and economic wellbeing of communities. These hazards include sudden-onset hazards, such as earthquakes, and slowly emerging , chronic hazards, such as those associated with climate change. To help public officials, emergency and other managers, the business community, and at-risk individuals reduce the risks...

Did you know that California homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage?

Many residents don’t realize that their homeowners policy does not cover earthquake damage. You need a separate earthquake insurance policy to protect your house and your belongings, or to pay for you to live elsewhere if earthquake damage or a civil authority keeps you out of your home.

What is CEA insurance?

CEA offers insurance as part of our goal to make California and its residents better prepared for large earthquakes. In fact, we are the largest provider of earthquake insurance in California, with more than $19 billion in claim-paying capacity and an “A-” (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best.

How to document an earthquake claim?

NOTE: in order to get the most from your insurance, be sure to document your claim by taking photos and videos of earthquake damage to your house and its contents before you clean up. And be sure to record all names, dates, phone numbers, and email addresses from all your insurance-related communications. Finally, hold on to all your receipts for earthquake-related expenses.

What happens if an earthquake hits?

A strong earthquake can knock out infrastructure, including electricity and water. Your water supply may be compromised. Keep several gallons of water on hand, just in case. It’s also a good idea to have a stock of canned goods—and an easy-to-reach can opener.

How to stop a car from shaking?

Follow the advice from our ShakeOut friends: 1 Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake.#N#Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. 2 Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops, then proceed carefully by avoiding fallen debris, cracked or shifted payment, and emergency vehicles.#N#If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.

How to protect yourself from an earthquake?

Protect yourself during earthquake shaking: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. The best way to shelter in place is to drop, cover, and hold on. When the quake starts, drop to the floor as soon as you can (it’s easy to get thrown off your feet and injured if you try to run while the building is moving).

What to do if power line falls on car?

If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire. Learn what to do in other unique and specific earthquake situations, so you can be safe wherever you are when the earth shakes.

How to do an earthquake drill?

Drop, cover, and hold on during your earthquake drill. DROP down onto your hands and knees immediately. This position protects you from falling but still allows you to move if necessary. COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) underneath a sturdy table or desk.

What can move during an earthquake?

Remember: anything can move, fall, or break during an earthquake or its aftershocks. Identify potential hazards in each room, including windows and other glass items, unanchored bookcases, furniture that can topple, items on shelves, and areas that could be blocked by falling debris.

What type of fastenings do you use on a shelf?

You should also make sure to place heavy or large objects on lower shelves. Use Velcro®-type fastenings to secure some items to their shelves.

What to do if an earthquake happens?

Create an evacuation plan. If an earthquake happens, you and your loved ones may need to evacuate a damaged area afterward. By planning and practicing for evacuation, you will be better prepared to respond appropriately and efficiently to signs of danger or to directions by civil authorities.

How to help your family during an earthquake?

Get the entire family to practice an earthquake drill, especially if you have children. Participating in an earthquake drill will help you and your loved ones understand what to do in case you are not with them during an earthquake.

How long should you store supplies?

Store enough supplies to last at least 3 days. You should also make a list of important information (like telephone numbers of emergency contacts, insurance information, and important medical information) and gather any important documents (like medical documents, birth certificates, and passports).

How to plan for a home evacuation?

Take a few minutes with your family to discuss a home evacuation plan. Sketch a floor plan of your home, walk through each room, and discuss evacuation details. If you live downstream from a dam, know flood-zone information. Plan a second way to exit from each room or area, if possible.

How long should you stay inside a car during an earthquake?

If you're in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops.

How to stay safe in a building?

If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.

How to keep your feet from cutting?

Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from cutting your feet.

What do you need to have in a fire?

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries at home .

Can you leave heavy items on shelves?

Don't leave heavy objects on shelves (they'll fall during a quake).

Why should people in the eastern United States be concerned about earthquakes?

1) Severe earthquakes have occurred in the eastern U.S.: In November of 1755, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum intensity of VIII occurred about 50 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was heavily damaged. Other strong earthquakes recorded in the continental US were centered in southeastern Missouri near...

What are the Great ShakeOut earthquake drills?

(Public domain.) The Great ShakeOut earthquake drills are based on scenario earthquakes that could effect the area if they were to actually take place. Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are an...

What is the "Triangle of Life" and is it legitimate?

The "Triangle of Life" is a misguided idea about the best location a person should try to occupy during an earthquake. Based on observations of an earthquake in Turkey, the idea doesn't apply to buildings constructed within the United States. Drop, cover, and hold under a table or desk is still the best recommendation , according to the American...

What do I do AFTER an earthquake?

WEAR STURDY SHOES to avoid injury from broken glass and debris. Expect aftershocks CHECK FOR INJURIES If a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound, use clean gauze or cloth if available If a person is not breathing administer CPR DO NOT attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in further danger of injury COVER injured...

What can I expect in my house when an earthquake occurs? How do I identify it? What can be done?

IDENTIFY: Look around your house for things that could fall or move. Ask yourself if your cupboard doors could fly open (allowing dishes to...

What can I do to be prepared for an earthquake?

There are four basic steps you can take to be more prepared for an earthquake: Step 1: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items. Step 2: Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency. Step 3: Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations. Step 4: Minimize...

What emergency supplies do I need for an earthquake?

Fire extinguisher Adequate supplies of medications that you or family members are taking Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies First-aid kit and handbook Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries Portable radio with extra batteries Water for each family member for at least two weeks (allow at least 1 gallon per person per...

What is the purpose of the USGS in natural hazards?

The mission of the USGS in natural hazards is to develop and apply hazard science to help protect the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation.

How deep is the San Andreas fault?

The San Andreas Fault is more than 650 miles long and extends to depths of at least 10 miles. Many other smaller faults like the Hayward (Northern California) and the San Jacinto (Southern California) branch from and join the San Andreas Fault Zone. The Pacific Plate grinds northwestward past the North American Plate at a rate ...

How much does the Pacific Plate grind?

The Pacific Plate grinds northwestward past the North American Plate at a rate of about two inches per year. Parts of the San Andreas Fault system adapt to this movement by constant "creep" resulting in many tiny shocks and a few moderate earth tremors.

How can the risks of an earthquake be reduced?

The risks that earthquakes pose to society, including death, injury, and economic loss, can be greatly reduced by (1) better planning, construction, and mitigation practices before earthquakes happen, and (2)... The severity of an earthquake can be expressed in terms of both intensity and magnitude. However, the two terms are quite different, and ...

Why do earthquakes happen?

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. The tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and cause the shaking that we feel.

How many people died in the 2004 tsunami?

Geological Survey (USGS), 2004 was the deadliest year for earthquakes since the Renaissance Age, making it the second most fatal in recorded history, with more than 275,950 deaths reported from the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26.

What is the mission of the USGS?

The mission of the USGS in natural hazards is to develop and apply hazard science to help protect the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation. The costs and consequences of natural hazards can be enormous, and each year more people and infrastructure are at risk.