Earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On
The only disaster with no warning — so the response has to be a reflex. Three "folk" tips you've heard are wrong and can get you killed.
The disaster with no warning
An earthquake gives no warning, so your response must be an automatic reflex — you won't have time to think. In modern buildings the greatest danger usually isn't collapse but "non-structural" hazards: shattering glass, falling fixtures and toppling furniture.
Drop, Cover, Hold On
This is the international standard endorsed by the USGS, WHO and major rescue services:
- Drop to the ground immediately, where you are — do not try to run.
- Cover your head and neck; get under a sturdy table if you can, or against an interior wall away from windows.
- Hold On to your shelter and stay put until the shaking stops.
Three popular "folk" tips are wrong and can increase your risk of death: standing in a doorway, running outside during the shaking, and the so-called "triangle of life." None are supported by research.
The first 30 minutes after
Expect aftershocks. Check yourself and others for injuries, then leave damaged structures carefully — stairs, not lifts. Shut off gas if you smell it, and water and electricity if lines are damaged. Wear sturdy shoes against broken glass, and move to open ground away from buildings, walls and power lines.
Build the reflex now
Anchor heavy furniture, know where your utility shut-offs are, and practise Drop–Cover–Hold On with everyone until it's instinctive. In the moment, a practised body protects you faster than a thinking mind can.