If you live in a city and an earthquake hits, you won't get a warning. Unlike hurricanes, there's no 72-hour forecast and no evacuation order — by the time you feel shaking, the event is already happening. That's why earthquake preparedness is entirely about what you do before a quake.
Who Needs to Read This?
Most people associate earthquakes with California — but according to the USGS's National Seismic Hazard Model, nearly 75% of the United States could experience a damaging earthquake. High-risk zones include:
- California and the Pacific Northwest — the San Andreas Fault system and the Cascadia Subduction Zone (capable of a magnitude 9+)
- The Midwest — the New Madrid Seismic Zone stretches from Illinois to Arkansas, threatening cities like Memphis and St. Louis
- Anywhere rated moderate to high on the USGS National Seismic Hazard Map — which covers far more of the country than most people realize
What to Do During an Earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On
The official guidance from FEMA, USGS, and the American Red Cross is: Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
- DROP to your hands and knees immediately. Don't try to run.
- COVER your head and neck with one arm. Get under a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby. If not, crawl next to an interior wall.
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you're under furniture, hold it with one hand so you can move with it.
"Stand in a doorway" — In modern buildings, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the structure. Get under a table.
"Use the Triangle of Life" — This viral theory has been widely discredited by USGS, the American Red Cross, and structural engineers. Your biggest risk is falling objects, not structural collapse. Drop, Cover, and Hold On is still the right call.
1. Secure Your Space
This is the most impactful thing you can do, and it costs less than $50.
Anchor Heavy Furniture to the Wall
Unsecured bookshelves, dressers, and entertainment units become projectiles during an earthquake. Furniture anti-tip straps bolt into wall studs and attach to the back of the furniture. Takes about 20 minutes per piece.
Furniture Anti-Tip Anchor Straps on Amazon ↗
Secure Your Water Heater
An unsecured water heater can topple and rupture a gas line. Seismic straps hold it to wall studs and are required by code in California.
Water Heater Seismic Straps on Amazon ↗
Store Smart
- Keep heavy items (cast iron, tools, canned goods) on low shelves
- Move breakables into cabinets that close and latch
- Use adhesive putty or museum wax to secure decorative items
Know Your Gas Shutoff
If you smell gas after a quake, you need to shut it off fast. Keep an adjustable wrench near your meter. Note: only shut off gas if you smell it or suspect a leak — the utility must restore service after shutoff, which can take days.
2. Prepare Your Supplies
Water First
Earthquakes frequently rupture municipal water lines. Tap water can be unavailable or unsafe for days to weeks after a major event. Stock at least one gallon per person per day.
Your 72-Hour Kit as a Starting Point
A solid kit covers the basics: water, food, first aid, light, and documentation. For earthquake-specific situations, add these:
N95 Dust Masks (Multi-Pack)
~$15–$25After a major quake, the air fills with drywall dust, insulation particles, and debris. Breathing that for even an hour is a real health hazard. The same masks useful for wildfire smoke work here.
Heavy-Duty Work Gloves
~$10–$20Clearing debris, moving rubble, or helping neighbors — all of this requires hand protection. Takes up almost no space and belongs in every urban emergency kit.
Sturdy Shoes Within Arm's Reach of Your Bed
One of the most common earthquake injuries happens in the first 30 seconds: people step out of bed onto broken glass in bare feet. Keep slip-on shoes or sneakers directly under your bed. Not on the other side of the room — under the bed.
Slip-On Emergency Shoes on Amazon ↗
3. Make a Plan
Know Your Shelter Spots in Every Room
- Bedroom: Under the bed frame (if solid), or against an interior wall away from windows
- Living room: Under a sturdy table or desk
- Kitchen: Away from the stove, oven, and refrigerator — under the table if you have one
- Bathroom: Against the interior wall, away from mirror and glass
Have a Communication Plan If You're Separated
If a quake hits while family members are at school or work, you need a pre-established meeting point and an out-of-state contact. Set it up before you need it.
Know Your Building Type
- Wood-frame buildings flex during shaking — less likely to collapse catastrophically
- Unreinforced masonry (older brick) is the riskiest — brick doesn't flex
- Older concrete "soft story" buildings with open ground floors (garages, retail) are a known risk
Post-Earthquake Checklist: Your First 30 Minutes
- Stay low and assess — check yourself for injuries
- Put on shoes before taking a single step
- Look around before moving — check for debris and structural damage
- Smell for gas — if detected, leave immediately. Do not flip switches
- Turn off gas at the meter — only if you smell gas or see a damaged line
- Check on neighbors, especially elderly or mobility-limited
- Don't use elevators
- Stay off roads — keep them clear for emergency vehicles
- Tune in to emergency radio for information
- Text, don't call — texts get through on congested networks
Earthquake Prep at a Glance
| Prep Item | Estimated Cost | DIY or Buy | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furniture anti-tip anchor straps | $10–$20 | DIY (20 min) | High |
| Water heater seismic straps | $20–$35 | DIY or pro | High |
| Shoes under the bed | $0 (use what you have) | DIY | High |
| 72-hour emergency kit | $50–$150 | Buy or assemble | High |
| N95 dust masks (multi-pack) | $15–$25 | Buy | Medium |
| Heavy-duty work gloves | $10–$20 | Buy | Medium |
| Gas shutoff wrench | $10–$15 | Buy | Medium |
| Cabinet latches for breakables | $10–$20 | DIY (15 min) | Medium |
| Battery/hand-crank emergency radio | $25–$40 | Buy | Medium |
| Museum wax / adhesive putty | $5–$10 | DIY | Lower |
The Bottom Line
Earthquake prep isn't complicated, but it does require you to act before anything happens. You have time right now to anchor your bookshelf, put shoes under your bed, and know your drop-cover-hold spot in every room. That's the entire point — none of this is hard, and it genuinely makes a difference.
Start with the anchoring and the shoes. Everything else builds from there.