Drop. Cover. Hold on.
You have one second of decision when shaking starts. Make it the same decision every time: down, under, holding on.
Do this now
- DROP to hands and knees before the quake throws you down.
- COVER head and neck under a sturdy table or desk. No table? Against an interior wall, arms over head and neck.
- HOLD ON to the shelter and move with it until the shaking stops.
- In bed: stay there — face down, pillow over head and neck. Floors around beds fill with glass.
- Driving: pull over away from overpasses, wires, and buildings, and stay belted inside.
The doorway myth
Doorways are no stronger than the rest of a modern house, and standing in one puts you in the path of a swinging door and moving people. Under the table beats in the doorway, every time. Don't run outside during shaking — the outside of a building is its most dangerous face, shedding glass and brick onto the sidewalk.
When the shaking stops
- Expect aftershocks — same drill, every time
- Shoes on before steps: quake floors are broken glass
- Smell for gas: rotten eggs → out, no switches, valve off only if trained and told
- Check people, then texts — text, don't call; lines are for emergencies
If you're near the coast
A long or violent quake IS the tsunami warning. Don't wait for sirens: when the shaking stops, move inland and uphill on foot, and stay there until officials clear it. The first wave isn't the last, and the sea pulling back is the final warning, not a curiosity.
Do not
- Don't run outside while it's shaking.
- Don't stand in a doorway.
- Don't use elevators — during or after.
- Don't light anything until you're sure there's no gas leak.
Common questions
Is a doorway the safest place in an earthquake?
No — that's a holdover from old unreinforced adobe buildings. In modern homes, drop, cover under a sturdy table, and hold on beats a doorway every time.
What do I do in an earthquake if I'm in bed?
Stay in bed, lie face down, and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Getting up mid-shake puts bare feet on breaking glass.
What should I do right after the shaking stops?
Shoes on, check for injuries and gas smell, expect aftershocks and repeat the drill, and use texts instead of calls. Near the coast, a long quake means move inland and uphill immediately.
Sources — official guidance
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