During an Earthquake

Disaster preparedness experts agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Other methods are considered dangerous.

What to do When the Shaking Begins

Most people have never experienced the kind of strong earthquake that is possible in our area. Sudden and intense back-and-forth motions will cause the floor or ground to jerk out from under you. Unsecured objects around will topple, fall, or become airborne, potentially causing serious injury. It's a panicky and frightening situation.

This is why you must immediately protect yourself after the first jolt … don't wait to see if the earthquake shaking will be strong!

In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On:

• DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquakes knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.
• COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

Wherever you are, protect yourself! What if you are driving, in bed, in a high-rise building, or at the beach when the shaking starts? Check out some tips online that instruct what to do in various situations.

What About People with Disabilities?

There are excellent resources online for people with disabilities and other access functional needs:

• Earthquake Preparedness Guide (PDF | RTF)
• Key Earthquake Safety Tips (PDF | RTF)

Why is Drop, Cover, and Hold On Recommended?

• Trying to move during shaking puts you at risk
  You will most likely be knocked to the ground during a strong earthquake. So it is best to drop before the earthquake drops you, and find nearby shelter or use your arms and hands to protect your head and neck.
• The greatest danger is from falling and flying objects
  This technique protects you from most of these injuries. If there is no furniture nearby, you can still reduce the chance of injury from falling objects by dropping down next to an interior wall and covering your head and neck with your arms (exterior walls are more likely to collapse and have windows that may break). You can also reduce your chance of injury by securing belongings in the first place.
• In the case of (very rare) building collapse
  Most buildings will not collapse in the U.S. (due to strict building codes), and few completely collapse. However, there is the possibility of structural failure in certain building types, especially unreinforced masonry (brick buildings), and in certain structures constructed before the latest building codes. Rescue professionals are trained to understand how these structures collapse in order to identify potential locations of survivors within "survivable void spaces." Drop, Cover, and Hold On increases the chance of your ending up in this type of void space.

The only exception to "Drop, Cover and Hold On" is if you are in a country with non-engineered construction, and if you are on the ground floor of an unreinforced mud-brick (adobe) building, with a heavy ceiling. In that case, you should try to move quickly outside to an open space.

What Not to do During an Earthquake

Research on earthquake injuries and fatalities show that the following actions are should not be taken during earthquakes:

Also, the shaking will probably knock you down, and objects may fall or be thrown at you. Injuries can be avoided if you drop to the ground before the earthquake drops you.

• Do not run outside or to other rooms during shaking
  The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to collapse. To avoid these danger zones, stay inside if you are inside, and stay outside if you are outside.
• Do not stand in a doorway
  A common myth is that doorways are the safest places to be during an earthquake. This is actually only true for old, unreinforced adobe houses or some older woodframe houses. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and the doorway does not protect you from the most likely source of injury – falling or flying objects. You also may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. You are safer under a table
• Do not get in the "triangle of life"
  In recent years, a popular email has been circulating which describes an alternative to the long-established Drop, Cover, and Hold On exercise. In actuality, the so-called "triangle of life" is potentially life threatening, and the credibility of these recommendations has been broadly questioned. This bad advice (which erroneously advises to get next to a table rather than underneath it) is based on incorrect assumptions and is quite hazardous!