If an earthquake hits, your priority is to protect your head, neck, and vital organs, stay away from things that can fall or break, and then move to safety and help others once the shaking stops.

Quick Scoop: What To Do In An Earthquake

1. The core rule: Drop, Cover, Hold On

When you feel strong shaking or get an alert, act immediately—do not wait to “see how bad it gets.” Your basic move almost everywhere is:

  • Drop to your hands and knees so you do not get knocked over.
  • Cover your head and neck, and your whole body if possible, under a sturdy table or desk, or next to an interior wall away from windows.
  • Hold On to your shelter (table/desk) and be ready for it to move, or hold your head and neck with both arms if you have no shelter.

Stay in this position until the shaking fully stops; many injuries happen when people try to run during shaking.

2. If you are indoors

Staying inside is usually safer than running outside while things are falling.

  • Move only a few steps (5–7 feet) to get to safer cover; do not rush across the room.
  • Get under a sturdy table/desk; if that is not possible, get next to an interior wall and protect your head and neck.
  • Stay away from:
    • Windows, glass doors, mirrors.
* Tall furniture, cabinets, hanging lights, and anything heavy that can topple.
  • Do not use elevators; power can fail and doors can jam.

If you are in bed, stay there if there is no glass directly over you; roll to your side and cover your head and neck with pillows.

3. If you are outdoors

Outdoors, the danger comes from things that can fall or collapse.

  • Move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, bridges, walls, and power lines.
  • Once in the open, drop to the ground and protect your head and neck; stay low to maintain balance.
  • Avoid standing near building entrances or exterior walls where bricks, glass, or debris can fall.

4. If you are in a car or public place

Earthquakes can feel very different in vehicles or crowded spaces, but the goal is the same: avoid falling objects and crashes.

  • In a car:
    • Pull over safely, away from bridges, overpasses, tunnels, trees, and power lines.
* Stay inside with your seatbelt on until the shaking stops.

* Avoid stopping under overpasses or near buildings that might drop debris.
  • In a stadium, theater, or similar:
    • Drop in front of your seat or lean forward as much as you can.
* Cover your head and neck with your arms, and hold on until the shaking stops.

* When it is over, exit slowly, watching for loose debris or falling objects and aftershocks.

5. If you are near the coast (tsunami risk)

In some regions (Japan, Pacific coasts, etc.), strong or long shaking can mean tsunami danger.

  • If shaking is strong or lasts 20 seconds or more near the shore, as soon as it stops, evacuate to higher ground or further inland.
  • Go on foot if possible to avoid traffic and blocked roads.
  • Aim for at least about 2 miles inland or about 100 feet above sea level if guidance in your area suggests this.
  • Do not wait for an official warning if local guidance says to move after strong shaking.

6. Right after the shaking stops

Once the ground settles, danger is not over; aftershocks and hidden hazards follow.

  • Check yourself first for injuries, then people around you; give first aid if you can.
  • Watch for:
    • Gas leaks (smell of gas, hissing sound); if suspected, open windows, leave, and report from outside, avoiding flames or sparks.
* Damaged electrical lines, sparks, or broken wiring; turn off electricity if it is safe and you know how.

* Broken water lines or spilled chemicals.
  • Expect aftershocks and be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On again.
  • Use phones only for serious emergencies to keep networks free for rescue and medical calls.

If buildings seem structurally damaged (big cracks, leaning walls, partial collapses), move away and set up in a safer open area.

7. Before an earthquake: simple prep that saves lives

Many injuries in earthquakes come from unsecured objects and lack of basic supplies.

  • At home:
    • Secure heavy furniture, shelves, and appliances to walls or floors.
* Keep heavy items on lower shelves, not high above head level.

* Know how to turn off gas, water, and electricity safely.
  • Have an emergency kit with:
    • Flashlight, extra batteries, battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
* First aid kit, basic medicines, copies of important documents.

* Drinking water and non‑perishable food for at least several days if possible.
  • Make a family meeting plan: where to meet if you are separated, who to call outside the affected area, and how to text instead of call when networks are busy.

Practice quick drills (especially with kids or coworkers) so that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” becomes automatic rather than something you have to remember under stress.

TL;DR: If you feel shaking: Drop to your hands and knees, Cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or next to an interior wall, and Hold On until the shaking stops; then check for injuries and hazards, expect aftershocks, and move to higher ground if you are near the coast and shaking was strong or long.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.