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What to do in an earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

An earthquake gives no warning, and the shaking usually lasts less than a minute. This page shows you how to protect yourself while it happens and what to do in the minutes and hours afterward.

Do this now

  1. Drop to your hands and knees right where you are. This keeps you from being knocked over.
  2. Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is within a step or two, crawl under it.
  3. Hold On to your shelter with one hand, and keep your other arm over your head and neck. If the shelter moves, move with it.
  4. Stay put until the shaking stops. Do not run outside.
  5. After the shaking, check yourself and others for injuries, then expect aftershocks.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On

This is the guidance from the Red Cross, FEMA, and the US Geological Survey (USGS). It works because most injuries in earthquakes come from falling objects and from people being thrown to the ground while trying to move.

If there is no table nearby, drop next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms. Stay away from windows, mirrors, tall furniture, light fixtures, and anything that can fall on you.

Do not stand in a doorway. In modern buildings a doorway is not stronger than the rest of the structure, and the door can swing and hurt you. Do not use elevators during or right after shaking.

If you are in bed

Stay in bed. Turn face down, and cover your head and neck with a pillow. You are less likely to be hurt staying in bed than trying to cross a room in the dark with broken glass on the floor.

Move only if a heavy light fixture or object is directly above you. Then protect your head and move to the nearest safe spot.

If you are outdoors

Move to a clear area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines. Then drop, cover your head, and hold on until the shaking stops. Falling glass and pieces of buildings are the main danger near walls and entrances.

If you are in a car

Pull over as soon as it is safe, and stop in a clear spot. Avoid stopping under or near buildings, trees, overpasses, bridges, and power lines. Set the parking brake and stay inside with your seat belt on until the shaking stops.

When you continue, drive carefully. Watch for cracks in the road, fallen debris, and damaged bridges or ramps. If a power line has fallen on your car, stay inside and wait for help.

If you use a wheelchair or walker

Lock your wheels if you can. Cover your head and neck with your arms, a bag, or a book, and stay where you are until the shaking stops. If you cannot get out of bed or a chair, do the same from where you are.

After the shaking stops

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the main one. Some can be strong enough to damage weakened buildings, so be ready to drop, cover, and hold on again at any time.

  • Check yourself for injuries, then help others. Give first aid for serious bleeding before anything else.
  • Put on sturdy shoes to protect your feet from broken glass.
  • Look for fire, and put out small fires only if you can do it safely.
  • Open cabinets slowly, because items may have shifted.
  • Use text messages instead of calls, so phone lines stay open for emergencies.
  • Listen to a battery radio or official alerts for instructions.

... danger "If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound" Leave the building and take everyone with you. If you know how and can do it safely, shut off the gas at the meter on your way out. Do not use matches, lighters, or switches. Call the gas company or your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) from a safe distance.

Check your home for damage. If you see large cracks, a leaning wall, or a shifted foundation, or if the building feels unsafe, leave and stay out until a professional says it is safe. Wear a mask and avoid dust if buildings have collapsed nearby.

If you are near the coast

Large earthquakes under or near the sea can cause a tsunami. Officials may not have time to warn you before the first wave arrives.

Move to high ground or inland right away if you are near the coast and any of these happen:

  • The shaking is strong, or lasts a long time and makes it hard to stand.
  • The ocean suddenly pulls back and exposes the sea floor.
  • You hear a loud roar from the ocean.
  • Officials issue a tsunami warning.

Do not wait for an official warning, and do not go to the shore to watch. Tsunamis come as a series of waves, and the first is often not the largest. Stay away from the coast until officials say it is safe.

Get ready before the next one

Secure tall furniture and heavy items to walls, and keep heavy objects on low shelves. Know a safe spot in each room where you can drop, cover, and hold on. Practice your drill so you can react without thinking.

Build an emergency kit and agree on a family plan so everyone knows where to meet. Check with your local emergency office for guidance specific to your area.