What to Do During an Earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On

The Three-Second Window

When an earthquake begins, you typically have 3-10 seconds before the most intense shaking arrives. In that window, the right action can significantly reduce your risk of injury. The wrong action — running, standing in a doorway, or panicking — can dramatically increase it. Knowing what to do in advance, and having practiced it enough that it is instinctive, is why preparation matters.

The Universal Response: Drop, Cover, Hold On

This is the guidance of FEMA, USGS, the American Red Cross, NEHRP, and emergency management agencies worldwide. It is simple because it needs to be usable under stress, in the dark, by people of all ages and abilities.

• DROP to your hands and knees. This position prevents being knocked down and allows you to move if needed. It also protects vital organs while keeping you mobile.
• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl under it. If no shelter is available, get against an interior wall away from windows. Pull your knees up to protect your body.
• HOLD ON until the shaking completely stops. If under a table, hold on with one hand and be prepared to move with it if it shifts.

Specific Situations

In Bed

Stay in bed. Pull the pillow over your head and neck. Rolling out of bed onto a hard floor during shaking increases injury risk from falls and debris. If there is a heavy overhead light fixture directly above the bed, move away from it — but otherwise, stay where you are.

Outdoors

Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires. Falling debris from buildings is the leading cause of outdoor earthquake injury. Once clear of hazards, drop to the ground and stay low until shaking stops. Do not try to run to shelter — you are more likely to fall.

In a Vehicle

Pull over to a clear area as quickly as safely possible. Avoid stopping under bridges, overpasses, trees, power lines, or near buildings. Stay inside with your seatbelt on. After shaking stops, proceed carefully — watch for road damage, fallen power lines, and bridge damage.

In a High-Rise Building

Do not run for the stairs or elevator. Drop, cover, and hold on. Move away from windows and exterior walls. Expect the fire alarm to activate (automatic sprinklers and alarms are triggered by shaking). Tall buildings sway significantly — this is engineered behavior, not structural failure. Evacuate only after shaking has completely stopped and only if the building or emergency personnel direct evacuation.

In a Crowded Public Place

Do not rush for exits. If you run, others will follow, and stampedes cause deaths. Drop away from display shelving, glass, or anything that can fall. Move toward interior walls and away from windows. Stay low and protect your head.

Near the Ocean

If you are at the coast and experience an earthquake strong enough to make standing difficult, or that lasts more than 20 seconds, move inland and to higher ground immediately after shaking stops. Do not wait for an official tsunami warning — if you can feel the shaking, you may not have time. The first wave is rarely the largest.

What NOT to Do

• Do not stand in a doorway. This outdated advice originates from unreinforced adobe buildings where doorframes were the strongest element. In modern construction, doorframes offer no special protection and leave you exposed to debris.
• Do not run outside during shaking. Falling facade, glass, and debris near building exteriors kill more people than interior collapse.
• Do not use the "triangle of life" method. This unscientific approach — promoted in viral emails — advocates curling beside furniture rather than under it. It is not endorsed by any recognized emergency management agency and is demonstrably inferior to Drop, Cover, Hold On.
• Do not try to call 911 immediately. Keep the network clear for critical emergencies. Use text messages. Check on neighbors who may be injured or trapped.

After the Shaking Stops

Expect aftershocks — and be ready to drop, cover, and hold on again immediately. Check yourself for injuries before helping others. Do not re-enter buildings until inspected for structural damage. If you smell gas, leave the building and do not use any electrical switches, which can ignite leaking gas. Report gas leaks to the utility company from outside the building or at a safe distance.