How to Survive an Earthquake: A Complete Guide

When an earthquake strikes, immediately drop to your hands and knees, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on until the shaking stops. Stay inside if you’re indoors—don’t run outside. After the shaking ends, check for injuries, avoid damaged buildings, and prepare for aftershocks. Before an earthquake ever happens, secure heavy furniture to walls, create an emergency kit with three days of supplies, and practice your response with your family.

Why This Matters Now

In 2024, earthquakes killed 730 people worldwide, with the vast majority of deaths from a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck Japan. In the United States alone, earthquakes cause an estimated $15 billion in annual losses. Despite these numbers, most people don’t know what to do when the ground starts shaking.

The difference between life and death often comes down to what you do in those first few seconds. This guide breaks down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and why—backed by research from rescue teams who’ve worked inside collapsed buildings around the world.

What Happens During an Earthquake

When tectonic plates shift beneath the Earth’s surface, they release energy that travels through the ground as seismic waves. These waves make everything shake—sometimes gently, sometimes violently. The shaking can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

During strong earthquakes, the ground doesn’t just shake up and down. It jerks sideways with incredible force. Furniture slides across rooms. Pictures fly off walls. Bookcases topple over. The ceiling fixtures swing wildly. In severe cases, buildings can partially collapse or sustain structural damage that makes them unsafe.

In the 2024 Japan earthquake, a majority of direct deaths occurred due to collapsed homes, with 92 victims crushed to death and 49 dying of suffocation or respiratory failure. Most injuries and deaths in earthquakes come from falling objects, not from the ground opening up or buildings completely pancaking to the ground—those Hollywood scenarios are rare in countries with modern building codes.

The Single Most Important Thing to Do

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. These four words form the core of earthquake survival in developed countries.

Here’s exactly what to do:

Drop: The moment you feel shaking or get an earthquake alert, drop to your hands and knees immediately. Don’t wait. Don’t think about it. Just drop. This position keeps you from being knocked down and lets you move if you need to.

Cover: Crawl under the nearest sturdy desk, table, or other solid furniture. If nothing is nearby, crawl to an interior wall away from windows, and cover your head and neck with your arms. If you’re in bed when it starts, stay there and protect your head and neck with a pillow.

Hold On: Grab onto your shelter with one hand. Keep your other arm protecting your head and neck. Hold on until the shaking stops, as things will be moving around. If you’re under a table that starts to move, move with it.

If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, lock your wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops.

The entire approach takes about two seconds to execute. That’s faster than your brain can process what’s happening and decide on a plan.

Where You Are Changes Everything

Your location when an earthquake hits determines your specific response.

Inside a Building

Stay inside and do not run outside. This might feel wrong—your instincts scream at you to get out—but running is when most people get hurt. They trip, they get hit by falling debris, they crash into things that are moving.

The most dangerous thing to do during shaking is to try to leave the building because objects such as bricks, glass and other building materials are likely to be falling from the sides of a building.

Stay away from windows, mirrors, hanging objects, and anything tall that could fall on you. Don’t stand in doorways—that’s outdated advice that doesn’t apply to modern construction. In modern homes, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house and do not protect you from falling or flying objects.

Outside

If you’re already outside when it starts, stay there. Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines if you can. Drop to the ground in an open space away from hazards and make sure your head is covered. Once you’re away from dangers, drop down and protect your head with your arms.

In a Car

Pull over to a safe spot away from overpasses, bridges, power lines, and large buildings. Set your parking brake and stay inside the vehicle. The car’s suspension will rock with the shaking, but it provides protection from falling objects. Don’t get out until the shaking stops. Once it does, proceed carefully and watch for damaged roads and bridges.

In a Crowded Place

If you are in a crowded building, do not rush for the exit—others may have the same idea. Instead, drop, cover, and hold on right where you are. Look for cover under benches, tables, or against an interior wall. Protect your head and neck with your arms.

The Controversial “Triangle of Life” Theory

You might have seen emails or social media posts about the “Triangle of Life” method. This theory, promoted by Doug Copp, claims you should lie down next to large furniture rather than under it. The idea is that when buildings collapse, furniture gets crushed but creates protective void spaces—triangular gaps—next to it.

Major organizations reject this advice for countries with modern building standards. The United States Geological Survey calls the Triangle of Life a misguided idea about earthquake survival. The American Red Cross states that research continues to demonstrate that in the U.S., “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” works and remains behind that recommendation.

Why doesn’t Triangle of Life work in developed nations? Several reasons:

The theory wrongly assumes buildings always collapse in earthquakes, that they always crush all furniture inside, that people can anticipate where survivable void spaces will be, and that people can move to desired locations during strong shaking. In reality, furniture moves unpredictably during earthquakes. You can’t know which side will create a safe space. And strong shaking makes movement nearly impossible.

Most injuries and deaths occur due to falling objects, not structure collapses. Getting under something protects you from those falling objects. Lying next to furniture leaves you completely exposed.

The Triangle of Life might have applications in countries where buildings are more likely to completely collapse. But in the United States, Canada, Japan, and other developed nations, Drop, Cover, and Hold On saves more lives.

What to Do After the Shaking Stops

The earthquake is over. Now what?

First 60 Seconds

Stay where you are for a moment. Take a breath. Check yourself for injuries. Look around carefully before you move—things might have shifted and could fall if you bump them.

Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.

Getting to Safety

If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings. Watch for hazards as you leave—broken glass, damaged stairs, fallen power lines, gas leaks.

Once outside, move to an open area. Stay away from buildings, trees, power lines, and anything that could have been weakened by the shaking.

If You’re Trapped

If you are trapped, send a text or bang on a pipe or wall. Cover your mouth with your shirt for protection and instead of shouting, use a whistle. Shouting uses up energy and makes you breathe in more dust. Short, sharp noises from tapping or a whistle travel farther and last longer.

Checking for Hazards

Look for immediate dangers: gas leaks, water leaks, electrical damage, structural damage. If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, get out immediately and stay out. Don’t turn lights on or off—a spark could ignite leaking gas.

Turn off utilities only if you see damage or are instructed to do so. Once you turn off gas, a professional needs to turn it back on.

Helping Others

Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training. If someone is seriously injured, don’t move them unless they’re in immediate danger. Call for emergency help or send someone to get help.

Staying Informed

Listen to your car radio or check your phone if you have service. Your only source of news may well be the car radio, assuming your local radio station has a working generator. Follow official instructions from emergency management agencies.

If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops. Don’t wait for an official warning if you’re in a coastal area after a strong earthquake.

Preparing Before an Earthquake Happens

The best survival strategy starts long before the ground shakes. You should be prepared to be isolated and on your own for at least three days and nights.

Secure Your Space

Walk through your home and workplace looking for hazards. Bolt bookshelves to wall studs, move beds away from windows, and don’t hang heavy items above couches, chairs or beds.

Use anchor bolts every 4 to 6 feet to secure your home to foundation. This is especially important for older homes built before 1980, which may need seismic retrofitting.

Strap water heaters to the wall so they don’t tip, and store heavy objects on lower shelves. Install strong latches on cabinet doors to keep contents from flying out. Secure your television and computer monitors.

Build an Emergency Kit

Your kit should include:

• Water: one gallon per person per day for three days
• Non-perishable food for three days
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (seven-day supply)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Personal hygiene items
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof container
• Cell phone with chargers and backup battery
• Cash
• Emergency blanket
• Dust masks
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps
• Whistle to signal for help

Keep this emergency kit in your daypack in earthquake-prone areas—it’s your lifeline if anything happens.

Make a Family Plan

Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. During disasters, it’s often easier to call long distance than locally. Choose someone outside your immediate area who everyone can check in with.

Decide where you’ll meet if you get separated. Pick two places: one right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood in case you can’t get home.

Make sure everyone knows how to text—texts often go through when calls don’t. Write down phone numbers of important contacts and save them in your phone. Don’t rely on your phone’s memory alone.

Practice Your Response

Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your entire household so everyone knows what to do. Run through it at different times of day and in different rooms. Practice until it becomes automatic.

Millions of people participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills annually, which take place on October 16 at 10:16 AM. These drills help people practice the right response before an actual earthquake hits.

Know Your Risk

Areas at higher risk for earthquakes include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington and the entire Mississippi River Valley. But earthquakes can happen anywhere. Over the past two centuries, 37 U.S. states have experienced an earthquake exceeding magnitude 5.

Find out if you’re near active fault lines. Learn about your building’s construction type and age. Older buildings, especially those built before building codes were strengthened, are at higher risk of damage.

Consider Earthquake Insurance

Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, look into earthquake insurance. The cost varies based on your location, building type, and age.

Special Situations That Need Different Responses

High-Rise Buildings

Stay away from windows. Get under a desk or table. Don’t use elevators—ever. After the shaking stops, use stairs to exit, but be prepared for aftershocks on the stairwell. Expect the fire alarm to go off and sprinklers to activate.

Near the Coast

Extensive evacuation drills that had taken place multiple times a year since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami saved lives when the 2024 Noto tsunami hit. If you feel strong shaking or a quake lasting 20 seconds or more near the coast, move to higher ground immediately after shaking stops. A tsunami might arrive within minutes.

In the Mountains or Hills

Watch for landslides during and after the quake. In the first month after the 2024 Japan earthquake, there were almost 1,000 landslides related to the quake. Move away from steep slopes and get to stable ground if possible.

In a Stadium or Theater

Stay in your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don’t try to leave until the shaking stops. Be ready for huge crowds trying to exit afterward—move slowly and carefully.

In a Store

Move away from shelving units and merchandise that could fall. Find an interior wall or column to shelter against, or get under a sturdy display table if available. Stay away from glass storefronts and display cases.

Common Mistakes People Make

Running Outside During Shaking

Plenty of earthquake injuries happen from falls when people try to run. Your legs can’t move normally when the ground is jerking around. You’re likely to fall, hit something, or get hit by falling objects on your way out.

Standing in Doorways

This outdated advice comes from photos of adobe buildings where doorways remained standing after walls collapsed. True if you live in an old, unreinforced adobe house or some older wood-frame houses. In modern homes, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house. Plus, doorways can’t fit more than one person, and you have nothing to hold onto.

Running to a Specific Room

During strong shaking, you can barely stand, let alone run to another room. Drop wherever you are. Don’t try to get to a “better” room or location.

Immediately Calling Everyone

Phone systems get overwhelmed after earthquakes. Text instead of calling when you can. Keep calls brief. Your first priority is safety, not communication.

Ignoring Small Earthquakes

Small quakes can be practice runs that help you figure out what to do during big ones. Use them to identify what’s not secured in your home and to practice your response.

Forgetting About Aftershocks

Aftershocks often follow earthquakes and may even be as strong as, or stronger than, the initial quake. Stay alert for hours or even days after the main event. Hundreds of aftershocks were recorded in the week after the 2024 Japan earthquake.

The Science Behind Why Drop, Cover, and Hold On Works

Research from actual earthquake damage proves this method saves lives. Pictures from around the world show tables and desks standing with rubble all around them and even holding up floors that have collapsed.

When you get under a sturdy table or desk, you’re protected from falling objects—the number one cause of earthquake injuries. The furniture acts as a shield. If the ceiling does come down, the table or desk may create a survival space underneath it.

The method also keeps you from being thrown around during violent shaking. Being on your hands and knees gives you stability and control. You can move with your shelter if needed. You’re not standing where you can be knocked down or lying in the open where anything can fall on you.

Experienced rescuers agree that successfully predicting other safe locations in advance is nearly impossible, as where voids will be depends on the direction of shaking and many other factors.

What the Statistics Tell Us

In 2023, Turkey recorded the highest damages to buildings and led to more than 100,000 injuries including deaths. The difference in impact between countries often comes down to building codes and preparedness.

Statistics show the most seismically dangerous regions remain the subduction zones around the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Mediterranean belt. But earthquakes can strike anywhere, often in places people don’t expect.

Between 1990 and 2024, China, Indonesia, and Iran recorded major earthquakes affecting millions of lives. The pattern is clear: earthquakes are a global threat, not just a California problem.

The good news? In the 2024 Japan earthquake, only two deaths were connected to the tsunamis, which speaks to Japan’s improved awareness of these hazards. Preparation and practice make a real difference.

Technology That Helps

Earthquake Early Warning Systems

ShakeAlert, an earthquake early warning system managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, can notify you seconds before strong shaking arrives, allowing you to take protective action. Those few seconds can mean the difference between being caught off guard and getting under cover.

The system detects the first waves from an earthquake and sends alerts before the stronger waves arrive. It’s not much time—usually 5 to 20 seconds—but it’s enough to drop, cover, and hold on.

Download early warning apps for your area. Make sure your phone is set to receive emergency alerts. Know what the alert will sound like so you recognize it instantly.

Earthquake Apps and Resources

Many regions have official emergency apps that provide real-time information during and after earthquakes. These apps can tell you the magnitude, location, depth, and potential impact. Some include maps showing shaking intensity in different areas.

The USGS website and app provide detailed information about recent earthquakes worldwide. The CDC and FEMA websites offer comprehensive preparedness guides.

Recovery and Long-Term Impacts

The Japanese government estimated the total cost of damage from the 2024 earthquake to be between $7.4 billion and $17.6 billion. The economic impact of major earthquakes extends far beyond the initial damage.

As of May 2024, more than 10 facilities that provide care for older adults had ceased operations, exacerbating the strain on local healthcare services. Healthcare access becomes critical after major earthquakes.

In an assessment of 115 indirect deaths, “distress after the earthquake and fear of aftershocks” was cited as the cause in 89 fatalities, followed by “severed lifelines such as electricity and water” at 53 cases, and “life in evacuation centers” at 37 cases.

This highlights why preparation matters so much. Having supplies, a plan, and the knowledge to stay safe reduces both immediate and long-term risks.

Teaching Kids About Earthquake Safety

Kids need age-appropriate earthquake education. Make it something they can remember without being scared.

Turn Drop, Cover, and Hold On into a game. Practice it regularly. Time how fast everyone can get under cover. Make it fun, not frightening.

Use the Great ShakeOut drills at school as a teaching moment. Talk about what happened and what they should do differently next time.

Help them understand that earthquakes are natural events, not punishments or signs of something bad. Explain the science in simple terms. The Earth’s plates move. Sometimes they stick and then slip. That makes the ground shake.

Let them help prepare the family emergency kit. Give them their own small kit with a flashlight, whistle, and comfort items. Knowing they have supplies makes them feel more in control.

Regional Differences in Building Codes

Building codes make the biggest difference in earthquake survival. Countries and regions with strong codes see far fewer deaths and less damage than those without.

The United States has different building codes than countries like Turkey, where the Triangle of Life theory originated. This is why survival techniques that work in one place might not work in another.

Modern buildings in earthquake-prone areas use special techniques: base isolation that lets buildings move independently from the ground, flexible frames that bend without breaking, reinforced walls that resist cracking, and redundant structural systems that provide backup support if one part fails.

Your home may be vulnerable to serious structural damage if it was built before 1980. Older buildings may need retrofitting to meet current standards. This involves strengthening the foundation, bolting the house to it, and reinforcing walls and connections.

The Role of Community Preparedness

Individual preparation helps, but community readiness saves more lives. When neighborhoods work together, everyone benefits.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) train ordinary citizens in basic disaster response. These volunteers can provide immediate help before professional responders arrive. They learn search and rescue basics, first aid, fire safety, and team organization.

Neighborhood plans identify people who might need extra help—elderly residents, those with disabilities, families with young children. Having a buddy system ensures no one gets forgotten during an evacuation.

Community drills practice coordinated responses. They reveal weaknesses in plans before real disasters strike. They also build relationships that matter when crisis hits.

When to Expect the Next Big One

Scientists can’t predict exactly when earthquakes will happen. They’ve studied the probabilities of when an earthquake might occur, but can’t predict with a level of assurance the day an earthquake will occur.

What they can do is identify areas at high risk. They can measure stress building up along fault lines. They can calculate probabilities over longer time periods. They know, for example, that a major earthquake along certain faults is likely within the next few decades.

But “likely within decades” doesn’t help you prepare for tomorrow. That’s why the strategy isn’t about predicting earthquakes—it’s about being ready whenever they happen.

Final Thoughts on Earthquake Survival

Surviving an earthquake comes down to three things: what you do before, during, and after.

Before: Secure your space, build your kit, make your plan, practice your response. These steps turn abstract danger into manageable preparation.

During: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try anything fancy. Just drop, get under something sturdy, and hold on until the shaking stops.

After: Check for injuries and hazards, help others if you can, stay alert for aftershocks, and follow official guidance. Recovery takes time. Be patient with yourself and others.

The ground will shake again. Tectonic plates keep moving. Stress keeps building along fault lines. But you don’t have to be a victim. You can be someone who knows what to do, who’s prepared, who survives.

Start today. Secure that tall bookshelf. Buy those emergency supplies. Practice with your family. Set up those alerts. These small actions add up to real safety.

Earthquakes are powerful, sudden, and unpredictable. But they’re not unstoppable. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can protect yourself and the people you care about. That’s not just survival—that’s taking control of your safety in an uncertain world.