Earthquakes happen anywhere, any time, and without any warning, so preparing is key
Earthquakes are abrupt, devastating and disastrous, and what makes them worse is that they happen in an instant, without warning, anytime, anywhere.

Earthquakes happen anywhere, any time, and without any warning, so preparing is key
Earthquakes are abrupt, devastating and disastrous, and what makes them worse is that they happen in an instant, without warning, anytime, anywhere.
It is because of this that many residents in ‘high risk’ areas should know what to do during an earthquake, as well as how to prepare for an earthquake, should it ever happen.
As dangerous and destructive as they are, there are a few things you can do to both minimize your risks, as well as lessen the impact an earthquake may have on your family during and after the event, so in this post, we look at how to prepare for an earthquake to ensure you are ready for the worst.
While earthquakes do happen all over the world, there are some more high-risk areas where earthquakes are more likely to happen.
According to Earthquakes Report, the top 5 high-risk earthquake areas in the US are:
Chances are, if you are living in one of these areas, you would have already experienced tremors, shaking, or a complete earthquake already. We can also see the hazard areas for earthquakes marked on this map below.
That is not to say that earthquakes do not happen anywhere else. They do, and they strike at any time. Unfortunately, for some of us, we can’t help but live in these high-risk areas, whether it be for work, family, or because it’s just where we grew up and we refuse to leave our home.
In any case, knowing what to do when an earthquake occurs will greatly minimize your risks, and increase the chances of survival for yourself, and those around you.
So let’s take a look at what you should do in an earthquake.
1. What to do in an earthquake
Earthquakes, as you are well aware, cause buildings to collapse, crumble and turn heavy objects into dangerous instruments that can trap you, injure you, or kill you.
That’s the primary effects of an earthquake, however, earthquakes also have secondary effects, such as:
- Causing fires
- Damaging roads and leaving you stranded or without exit points
- Cause tsunamis and flooding
- Cause the shutdown of many integral systems such as water, the grid, and supplies such as food and medicine
During an earthquake, there is a very simple rule that people are taught, which is: drop, cover, and hold on. This is to ensure that whatever happens, you seek immediate protection during an earthquake. For instance:
- If you are in a vehicle when an earthquake occurs, pull over and stop in a space clear of trees, buildings, bridges and power lines. Do not drive through it.
- If you are in bed, stay in it and cover your head and neck with pillows.
- If you are outdoors, stay outdoors. Do not run to a building.
- Do not stand in a doorway. It will likely crumble and trap you.
- Do not run outside.
The motto: drop, cover, and hold on, is taught in schools and businesses in high-risk areas to ensure that people stay where they are and protect themselves in an earthquake.
The reason why authorities alert people to not running out of a building during an earthquake is that the greatest danger of an earthquake exists directly outside buildings, exterior walls, and exits to any establishment.
Research from the University of Washington shows that the majority of injuries and fatalities occur during an earthquake when people either:
- Run outside or to other rooms during shaking
- Standing in doorways
- Getting into a “triangle of life”
Doing these things will likely get you killed, so don’t do them.
2. Things you should do before an earthquake
Preparing for an earthquake largely revolves around the right knowledge of what to do. However, there are some things that you should do around the home to make sure there are less risks. This is especially the case if you live in one of the high-risk areas we pointed out at the beginning of this article.
So how can you prepare now, for something that you can’t predict will happen? Easy. Based on past research of what happens in earthquakes, there are a number of things you should do to prepare for the next one. They are:
- Secure large and loose objects in the family home that may cause injury to yourself or others. These would be things such as making sure your television set is secure, any large items on shelves are secure, and storing breakable glass items in lower shelves to minimize their chance of breaking.
- Create a communication plan for your family/friends. This would be simple things such as having a place to go to that’s away from the area (bug out location) alternative ways to get there, and an out-of-area contact.
- Practice the drop, cover, and hold on routine with your family and coworkers. Having at least one person in a group will ensure that anyone else around them will remain safe.
- Make sure your home and contents insurance covers damage caused during an earthquake.
- Get together supplies that you might need after the impact of an earthquake. We will look at this below in further detail.
Other ways to prepare your area
Other things you can do