Earthquake Home Safety Basics
Drop, cover, hold on; secure tall furniture; shutoffs — USGS-aligned household steps.
During shaking: Drop, Cover, Hold On
USGS and Ready.gov align on Drop, Cover, Hold On:
- Drop to hands and knees.
- Cover your head and neck under sturdy furniture or against an interior wall away from windows.
- Hold On until shaking stops.
Do not run outside during shaking — falling facade and glass injure more people than interior collapse in typical U.S. wood-frame homes. If in bed, stay and cover your head with a pillow.
Before: secure your home (weekend project)
| Risk | Low-cost fix |
|---|---|
| Tall bookshelves | Anchor to studs with furniture straps |
| Water heater | Strap to wall per local code |
| Heavy wall art above beds | Relocate or secure closed hooks |
| Kitchen | Latches on cabinets (contents fly outward) |
| Gas | Know wrench location; teach adults shutoff — do not practice turning gas off unnecessarily |
Ready.gov recommends learning utility shutoffs before an event and keeping a wrench in the same labeled drawer every time.
After shaking stops
- Check yourself and household for injury.
- Expect aftershocks — Drop, Cover, Hold On again.
- Inspect gas smell, electrical sparks, structural cracks. Evacuate if unsure; call 911 from outside.
- Text out-of-area contact once cell networks recover.
Verifiable element
An anchoring audit (May 2026 example): two bookcases strapped ($34 straps), water heater strapped to code, heavy mirror moved off hallway. Drill time to reach shutoff wrench: 40 seconds. USGS guidance emphasizes practice drills — calendar a family drill twice yearly.
Key takeaways
- Drop, Cover, Hold On beats running through a shaking building.
- Straps and latches are cheap injury prevention.
- Know gas/electric shutoffs; practice finding the wrench, not flipping gas off casually.