Earthquake Survival Guide

An earthquake can strike without warning at any hour of the day or night. In a major seismic event, the most violent shaking typically lasts between 15 and 60 seconds — but those seconds are when the majority of injuries and deaths occur. The decisions you make in that first moment are the most critical. Preparation and knowing the right actions in advance is what saves lives.

Earthquakes are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths over the past century. Many of these deaths occur not from the ground shaking itself, but from collapsing buildings, falling objects, fires ignited by broken gas lines, and post-quake hazards like tsunamis. This guide addresses all phases: before, during, and after.

Before an Earthquake — Prepare Your Home and Plan

Identify Hazards

Walk through your home and identify anything that could fall, tip over, or break during shaking:

• Heavy furniture (bookshelves, wardrobes, refrigerators) — secure to walls with metal brackets
• Water heaters and gas appliances — strap to wall studs
• Heavy items stored on high shelves — move to lower shelves or the floor
• Hanging pictures and mirrors over sleeping areas — relocate or use safety hooks
• Overhead light fixtures — ensure they are firmly anchored
• Glass items and fragile objects on open shelves — store behind closed doors or lower them

Prepare an Earthquake Kit

Item	Notes
Water	4 litres (1 gallon) per person per day — 3 days minimum
Food	3-day non-perishable supply
First aid kit	With manual instruction guide
Torch + spare batteries	Or a hand-crank model
Portable phone charger	Fully charged
Sturdy shoes	Leave one pair beside your bed — broken glass is a major post-quake hazard
Gloves	Heavy work gloves for handling debris
Emergency whistle	For signalling if trapped under rubble
Copies of key documents	In a waterproof bag
Cash	Small denominations — ATMs may be down
Blanket	Temperatures can drop quickly outdoors

Know Your Safe Spots

In every room you regularly occupy, identify the safest positions:

• Under a sturdy desk or table
• Against an interior wall away from windows
• In a doorway of a load-bearing wall (less preferred in modern buildings — a sturdy table is better)

Identify the most dangerous spots: near windows, under heavy ceiling fixtures, near tall furniture that could tip.

Family Plan

1. Agree on a post-earthquake meeting point outside your home — in case you are separated.
2. Designate an out-of-area contact that all family members can call. It is often easier to call outside the affected zone than locally.
3. Know how and when to turn off gas, water, and electricity at the main shutoffs.
4. Practice the Drop, Cover, and Hold On procedure with all family members.

During an Earthquake

The internationally recommended response is Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

Drop, Cover, Hold On — Step by Step

1. DROP to your hands and knees immediately — this prevents being knocked down and lets you move safely if needed.
2. COVER your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, get under it. If not, get against an interior wall away from windows.
3. HOLD ON to your shelter (the table leg or your neck protection) until the shaking stops. Do not try to run.

⚠️ Do NOT run outside during shaking. Most injuries happen when people try to move — they are struck by falling objects or knocked off their feet. Stay where you are until the ground stops moving.

If You Are Indoors

• Stay inside. Most injuries occur from people running outside and being hit by falling debris.
• Stay away from windows, exterior walls, and heavy furniture that could tip.
• Do not use elevators.
• If in bed, stay there — pull the pillow over your head. Falling glass is the primary risk in most modern bedrooms.
• If in a high-rise building, do not attempt to evacuate via stairs during shaking — get under a desk and wait.

If You Are Outdoors

1. Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires immediately — these are the main falling hazards.
2. Crouch low and protect your head with your arms.
3. Stay in the open until shaking stops.

If You Are in a Vehicle

1. Pull over to the side of the road — avoid bridges, overpasses, tunnels, and power lines.
2. Stay inside the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened.
3. Once shaking stops, proceed carefully — roads may be cracked or blocked by debris.

If You Are Trapped Under Debris

1. Do not light a match or cigarette lighter — gas lines may be broken.
2. Do not move around unnecessarily — you risk dislodging debris above you.
3. Cover your mouth and nose with cloth if possible — dust can cause serious respiratory harm.
4. Tap on a pipe or wall repeatedly so rescuers can hear you. Use your whistle if available.
5. Shout only as a last resort — shouting causes you to inhale large amounts of dust and depletes energy.

Special Scenarios

In a crowded space (cinema, shopping centre): Stay in your seat or drop to the floor and protect your head. Do not rush to exits during shaking — mass movement during an earthquake causes crush injuries.

Near the coast: After shaking stops, immediately move to high ground or inland — a large earthquake near a coast is a natural tsunami warning. Do not wait for an official alert.

At night: Your shoes and a torch are beside your bed (they should be). Broken glass on the floor is a primary cause of injury after nighttime earthquakes.

After an Earthquake

Immediately After Shaking Stops

1. Check yourself for injuries before helping others. You cannot help if you are injured.
2. Check others around you for obvious injuries. Apply first aid for serious bleeding before anything else.
3. Expect aftershocks — some may be nearly as strong as the main quake. Drop, Cover, and Hold On again for each one.
4. Check for fires — small fires ignited by broken gas lines and overturned candles must be extinguished quickly before they spread.
5. Smell for gas. If you detect gas, open windows, do not operate any switches, and evacuate the building. Do not return until authorities clear it.

Inspecting Your Building

⚠️ Do not re-enter a damaged building until it has been inspected. Aftershocks can collapse already-weakened structures. Look for these danger signs from outside:

• Visible cracks in load-bearing walls or the foundation
• Doors or windows that are severely jammed (indicate structural distortion)
• Sagging rooflines or floors
• Chimneys that have partially collapsed
• Leaning or tilting of the structure

Utilities

Utility	Action After Earthquake
Gas	If you smell gas or hear hissing: leave, do not use switches, call gas company
Electricity	If you see sparks, frayed wires, or smell burning: turn off at main panel if safe
Water	If water pipes are damaged, turn off at main. Use stored water only until confirmed safe
Sewage	If pipes are damaged, do not use toilets — use outdoor latrine or bagging

Communications

• Use text messages rather than voice calls — texts use far less network bandwidth and will often go through when calls fail.
• Check in with your family meeting point and out-of-area contact.
• Monitor battery-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency broadcasts.
• Charge all devices immediately if power is available — it may not last.

Structural Damage Assessment Timeline

Time After Quake	Expected Actions
0–1 hour	Search & rescue of easily accessible trapped people
1–24 hours	Government and professional rescue teams assess and operate
24–72 hours	Survivability window for trapped people narrows significantly
72+ hours	Focus shifts to recovery unless specific signs of life detected

Quick Reference — Earthquake Survival

Situation	Action
Shaking starts indoors	Drop, Cover, Hold On — under a table or against interior wall
Shaking starts outdoors	Move away from buildings — crouch, protect head
Shaking starts in car	Pull over away from bridges and power lines — stay inside
Trapped under debris	Tap rhythmically, cover mouth, conserve energy
Near coast when quake stops	Immediately move to high ground — tsunami risk
Smell gas after quake	Leave building, do not touch switches, call from outside
Building shows structural damage	Do not re-enter — wait for inspection
Aftershock occurs	Drop, Cover, Hold On again

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This guide is for general preparedness education. In an emergency, always follow the instructions of local emergency services. Seismic risk and building standards vary significantly by region — consult your local disaster management authority for area-specific guidance.