What should I do during an earthquake?
Drop, cover and hold on. What to do in bed, driving, outdoors or in a wheelchair, and the first steps after shaking stops.
Start here
Drop, cover and hold on. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk, and hold on until the shaking stops. This is the standard advice from emergency agencies.
Where you are matters
- In bed: stay there and cover your head with a pillow.
- Driving: pull over away from bridges, overpasses and power lines, set the brake and stay inside.
- Outdoors: move away from buildings, trees and wires if you can, then drop.
- In a wheelchair: lock the wheels, bend forward and cover your head.
What not to do
Don’t run outside during shaking. Falling glass and debris near buildings cause many injuries. Doorways are not safer than other spots in modern homes.
When it stops
Check yourself and others for injuries. Put on shoes. Expect aftershocks. If you smell gas, leave and shut it off only if it’s safe. Listen to official alerts for instructions, and follow tsunami warnings if you’re near the coast.
This is general safety information. See the full preparedness guides or build your family plan.
Earthquake readiness for Bay Area homes: kits, retrofits, plans