Right now
Drop. Cover. Hold on.
Get under a sturdy table or desk. Cover your head and neck. Hold on until the shaking stops. Do not run outside.
While the ground is shaking
Where you are right now determines what you do
If you are indoors
Drop to your hands and knees. Crawl to a sturdy desk, table, or workbench and get under it. Hold on with one hand. If there is nothing to get under, move to an interior wall away from windows and cover your head and neck with both arms. If you are in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Do not stand in a doorway.
Source: USGS ShakeOut, Ready.gov
If you are outdoors
Move away from buildings, power lines, and trees. Drop to your knees and cover your head and neck with your arms. Stay in the open until the shaking stops. Do not try to run into a building.
Source: Ready.gov, OSHA
If you are driving
Pull over to a clear spot away from overpasses, bridges, power lines, and buildings. Set the parking brake. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on until the shaking stops. The vehicle provides reasonable protection from falling debris.
Source: Ready.gov, USGS
If you use a wheelchair or walker
Lock your wheels. Cover your head and neck with your arms or a pillow. Hold on until the shaking stops.
Source: ShakeOut.org, Earthquake Country Alliance
When the shaking stops
The next 10 minutes
Check yourself for injuries
You will help others better if you are not bleeding. Apply direct pressure to any wound with a clean cloth. Do not move anyone with a serious injury unless they are in immediate danger of further harm.
Check for gas leaks
If you smell gas (rotten eggs) or hear hissing, shut off the main gas valve if you can reach it safely. Open windows. Leave the building. Do not flip any electrical switches, light matches, or use a phone inside the building. Call 911 from outside. Once you turn off gas, only the utility company can safely restore it.
Check for structural damage
If the building looks damaged, shifted, or you hear creaking or shifting sounds, get out. Move carefully through the exit. Watch for broken glass on the floor. Use stairs, never an elevator. Once outside, move away from the building and stay clear of damaged structures, downed power lines, and fallen debris.
If you are trapped
Cover your mouth with your shirt to filter dust. Bang on a pipe or wall so rescuers can hear you. Use a whistle if you have one. Do not shout unless you have to; breathing dust is dangerous. Send a text if your phone works.
Prepare for aftershocks
They can come within minutes and may be strong enough to cause additional damage, especially to already-weakened structures. Be ready to drop, cover, and hold on again. Aftershocks are not only a first-few-minutes danger. They can continue for days, weeks, or longer, and there is roughly a one-in-twenty chance the first quake is a foreshock to a larger one within the following week. Stay ready long after the main shaking, and treat any damaged building as unsafe to re-enter until it has been inspected. If you are near the coast and the shaking was strong or lasted a long time, move to high ground immediately; do not wait for an official tsunami warning.
After the immediate danger
The first hour
Check on neighbors, especially anyone elderly, disabled, or living alone. If you have training, help with injuries. If you do not, keep people calm and wait for emergency responders.
Do not enter damaged buildings to retrieve belongings. Take photos of any damage to your property before moving anything, if it is safe to do so.
Check your water supply. If you suspect water lines are damaged, shut off the main valve. Fill bathtubs and clean containers with water while it is still running, if the supply seems intact.
Wear sturdy shoes. Broken glass and debris cover floors after earthquakes. Protect your hands with work gloves when moving rubble.
Use your phone sparingly. Text rather than call. Phone networks overload after major earthquakes. Keep your phone charged for emergency alerts and communication with family.
If the power is out, check your food supply. Eat refrigerated food first, then frozen. A full freezer can hold safe temperatures for roughly 48 hours if the door stays closed. Do not open it to check.
Sources: USGS ShakeOut (2023, 2024, 2025), Ready.gov Earthquakes, OSHA Earthquake Preparedness and Response, Cal OES Post-Earthquake Safety, USGS Post-Earthquake FAQ, Earthquake Country Alliance Gas Safety, PG&E Natural Disaster Safety. All safety claims verified against primary sources. Last reviewed August 30, 2026.
This guide is not professional emergency management advice. It is a plain-language starting point for someone experiencing an earthquake right now.