An earthquake can last for seconds or minutes with multiple aftershocks. Earthquakes can cause buildings and bridges to collapse — and trigger avalanches, flash floods, fires, landslides, or tsunamis.
See how to determine your risk, prepare your family, learn about your building code, and identify ways to strengthen your home against earthquakes.
Before an earthquake, secure your home contents, make a disaster plan, and assemble a disaster supply kit. Prioritize water since earthquakes can disrupt supply or purification.
Contact your insurance company for an annual checkup to ensure you understand your policy and have adequate coverage.
If you have an older home, strengthen it with retrofits to withstand shaking.
While inside during an earthquake, stay away from doorways and Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
If you are outside, get into the open — away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.
Danger from an earthquake isn’t over once the shaking stops. If you are in a damaged building, go outside and move away. Do not enter damaged buildings. Don’t use matches, lighters, barbecues, electrical equipment, or appliances until you are sure there are no gas leaks.
Take photos of property damage and file a claim with your insurance company. Plan to repair and rebuild resiliently to prevent damage from future earthquakes.
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The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — is the leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters.
This guide helps homeowners and homebuyers understand their resilience options.
This annual conference brings together the nation’s leading voices in disaster safety.
Inspect2Protect will help you understand the building code where you live.
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In most cases, you should not run outside during an earthquake as there may be falling debris, broken glass, or other hazards that could cause injury.
If you are indoors, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture (such as a desk or table), and hold on until the shaking stops. If you are in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Protect your head and neck with your arms.
If you are outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, or other structures that could collapse or fall. If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear place and stay inside with your seat belt fastened until the shaking stops.
Remember, it is not safe to run outside during an earthquake in almost all cases. Instead, follow the recommended safety procedures based on your location and circumstances.
While current research is inconclusive, some anecdotal evidence suggests that animals may be able to sense changes in the Earth’s crust or electromagnetic activity before an earthquake.
Dogs barking incessantly, birds flying away en masse, and fish jumping out of the water are just a few examples of unusual behavior observed before the ground shakes. That said, it is difficult to determine whether these behaviors predict earthquakes or are simply coincidental.
