Earthquake Preparedness
Secure your home, build a kit, and know what to do during and after a quake.
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Secure Your Home
- Strap water heater to wall studs with metal straps (top and bottom)
- Anchor tall furniture (bookcases, dressers, china cabinets) to wall studs
- Install latches on cabinets to prevent contents from flying out
- Move heavy items to lower shelves — nothing heavy above bed level
- Use museum putty or earthquake gel under fragile decor
- Secure flat-screen TVs with safety straps
- Hang pictures and mirrors with closed hooks, not open ones
- Know where your gas shut-off valve is and keep a wrench attached or nearby
- Consider a seismic gas shut-off valve (auto-trips on shaking)
Build the Kit
- Sturdy shoes and a flashlight under every bed (broken glass injuries are #1)
- At least 3 days of water — 1 gallon per person per day; aim for 2 weeks
- Non-perishable food for 2 weeks; rotate every 6 months
- First-aid kit, prescription meds (rotate), N95 masks for dust
- Battery or hand-crank radio + extra batteries
- Whistle, work gloves, dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape
- Cash in small bills — ATMs and card readers go down
- Copies of IDs, insurance, deed in a waterproof bag
Plan
- Sign up for ShakeAlert or your region's early-warning system
- Pick an out-of-state contact everyone in the family will text after the quake
- Pick two family meeting spots — one near home, one outside the neighborhood
- Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with kids twice a year
During a Quake
- DROP to hands and knees before the quake drops you
- COVER head and neck under a sturdy desk or table; if none, against an interior wall
- HOLD ON to your shelter and protect head/neck until shaking stops
- Stay indoors — most injuries come from running in/out during shaking
- In bed? Stay there, cover head with pillow
- Driving? Pull over away from overpasses, power lines, signs. Stay in the car.
After the Shaking Stops
- Expect aftershocks — they can be nearly as strong
- Put on sturdy shoes before walking anywhere
- Check for gas smell — if you smell gas, shut off main valve and leave; do not flip switches
- Check for injuries; give first aid before moving the seriously injured
- Text instead of calling — voice networks overload
- Do not flush toilets until you confirm sewer lines are intact
- Inspect chimney from a distance before lighting a fire
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