How do you prepare your home for an earthquake?

Short answer. Beforehand, fasten tall or heavy furniture and appliances to wall studs, strap the water heater, and move heavy objects low and away from beds ¹⁴⁸. When shaking starts, Drop, Cover, Hold On: drop to hands and knees, cover your head and neck, hold on until it stops ¹. Afterwards, expect aftershocks ¹⁸ and do not light matches or flip switches until you are sure there is no gas leak ⁸.

Why does securing furniture matter so much?

In many earthquakes, the house stays standing but its contents move. Japan's Cabinet Office, citing a Tokyo Fire Department survey, reports that about 30% to 50% of injuries in recent major earthquakes were caused by furniture tipping, falling or moving ⁵. The Earthquake Country Alliance states that 55% of injuries in the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California were caused by falling furniture or objects ⁴.

Much of this can be done by the household itself, and many of the measures are low cost ⁴. The Earthquake Country Alliance suggests securing at least one item every weekend until everything is done ⁴.

What should you secure first?

Start with what could hurt someone or break a gas or water line.

• Tall and heavy furniture. Canada advises securing tall or heavy furniture and appliances to wall studs to prevent tipping ⁸. Ready.gov lists bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions and objects that hang on walls ¹.
• The water heater. The Earthquake Country Alliance recommends securing a water heater to wall studs with two metal straps ⁴. Canada asks you to pay special attention to appliances that could break gas or water lines if they fall over ⁸.
• Other heavy appliances. Canada lists refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers, to be fastened to wall studs or the floor ⁸.
• TVs and computers. Secure them with straps designed for the purpose ⁴.
• Kitchen cabinets. Install latches so doors stay shut and contents stay inside ⁴.
• Heavy objects on shelves. Move them to the floor or low shelves, and away from doors and escape routes ⁴.
• Beds and sofas. Move bookcases and similar furniture away from places where people sit or sleep ⁴.

Which fastening devices does Japan describe?

Japan's Cabinet Office describes several common options ⁵:

Both Canada and the Earthquake Country Alliance specify fastening to wall studs ⁴⁸. If you are unsure what your walls can hold, ask a qualified tradesperson.

What about the building itself?

Securing contents is not the same as strengthening a building. Ready.gov suggests considering improvements to fix structural issues ¹, and Japan's Cabinet Office advises an early seismic assessment for homes built before 1981, when its seismic standards were strengthened ⁵. Phaenyx does not give structural or retrofit instructions: foundation bolting, bracing and wall reinforcement must be assessed and designed by a licensed structural engineer. Ready.gov also notes that a standard homeowner's insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage ¹.

What do you do when the shaking starts?

Ready.gov describes three steps ¹:

1. Drop where you are onto your hands and knees.
2. Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand.
3. Hold on until the shaking stops.

The USGS adds that indoors you should stay there, get under a desk or table and hang on to it, or move into a hallway or against an inside wall ². Canada advises staying indoors and avoiding doorways, windows and elevators ⁸.

Some common advice is wrong. The ShakeOut program run by the Statewide California Earthquake Center says not to stand in a doorway, because in modern buildings doorways are no safer and do not protect you from flying or falling objects ³. It also says not to run outside, because glass, bricks or other building parts may be falling, and warns against the so-called "triangle of life", whose source it says has been discredited by leading experts ³.

What if you are in bed, in a wheelchair, in a car or outside?

• In bed: turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow ¹.
• Wheelchair or walker: lock your wheels ¹⁸.
• In a car: pull over, stop and set the parking brake ¹. CENAPRED adds to park away from buildings, tall trees and poles ⁶.
• Outside: stay outside and move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines ¹.
• Near the coast: go inland or to higher ground as soon as the shaking stops ¹. CENAPRED says to move away from beaches, rivers, streams, marshy areas and lagoons and take refuge on high ground ⁶.

What should you do after an earthquake?

Ready.gov warns of serious hazards after an earthquake, such as building damage, leaking gas and water lines, and downed power lines ¹.

• Expect aftershocks. Ready.gov, Canada and CENAPRED all warn that more shaking may follow the main shock ¹⁶⁸.
• Leave a damaged building. If you are in a damaged building, go outside and move away from it, and do not enter damaged buildings ¹. CENAPRED says not to use a building that shows damage ⁷.
• Treat every flame as a risk. Do not light matches or turn on light switches until you are sure there are no gas leaks or spilled flammable liquids ⁸. CENAPRED extends this to candles, open-flame devices and electrical appliances, and asks you to report leaks ⁷.
• Dress for debris. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes ¹.
• Avoid wires and spills. Do not step on or touch loose or fallen cables, and clean up spilled flammable or toxic liquids immediately ⁷.
• Check people first. Check for injuries and get medical help if needed ⁷.
• Keep phone lines free. Text messages may be more reliable than calls ¹; Canada advises texting family and friends ⁸, and CENAPRED says to use the phone only for emergencies ⁶⁷.
• If trapped: send a text or bang on a pipe or wall ¹.
• Stay informed. Listen to the radio, follow official channels and do not spread rumors ⁶⁷.

What official agencies recommend

The core message is shared, but the details differ.

• United States (Ready.gov, USGS): Drop, Cover, Hold On; secure bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, TVs and wall-hung objects; consider fixing structural issues ¹².
• Canada (Get Prepared): secure heavy furniture and appliances to studs or the floor; avoid doorways, windows and elevators; no flames or light switches until gas leaks are ruled out ⁸.
• Japan (Cabinet Office): a detailed menu of furniture-fixing devices, 30% to 50% of recent injuries attributed to furniture, and seismic assessment for pre-1981 homes ⁵. The same page recommends 3 litres of water per person per day for 3 days, and more than one week of stock for a Nankai Trough earthquake ⁵.
• Mexico (CENAPRED): a family civil protection plan, evacuation drills and identified safe zones at home, school and work; regular checks of gas and electrical installations; an emergency backpack ⁶. CENAPRED's "during" advice is framed as staying calm and moving to the safe zone, away from falling objects and windows ⁶, rather than the three-word Drop, Cover, Hold On wording used in North America.

Where to shelter indoors is phrased differently: Ready.gov focuses on the body position ¹, the USGS names a sturdy table, a hallway or an inside wall ², and CENAPRED names a pre-identified safe zone ⁶. All of them agree on staying away from windows and things that can fall ¹²⁶⁸.

Frequently asked questions

Is a doorway the safest place in an earthquake?

No. ShakeOut says doorways in modern buildings are no safer and do not protect you from falling or flying objects ³, and Canada advises avoiding doorways ⁸. Drop, Cover, Hold On where you are instead ¹.

Should I run outside when the shaking starts?

No. Running outside is dangerous because glass, bricks and other building parts may be falling ³. If you are already outside, stay there and move away from buildings, trees and power lines ¹.

What is the single most important thing to secure?

Agencies point first to items that can injure people or break utility lines: tall furniture near beds and seating, and the water heater ⁴⁸. The Earthquake Country Alliance recommends two metal straps into wall studs for a water heater ⁴.

How much water should I store for an earthquake?

Japan's Cabinet Office recommends 3 litres per person per day for 3 days, and more than a week of supplies for a Nankai Trough earthquake ⁵. Other countries set different amounts; see our guide on water per person.

Can I strengthen my house myself?

Securing contents, yes. Structural work, no: Ready.gov points to fixing structural issues ¹ and Japan recommends a seismic assessment for older homes ⁵, and that work should be designed by a licensed structural engineer.

Next step: write your earthquake plan

Earthquake preparation comes down to decisions made in advance: which items to secure first, where each person takes cover, and how the household reconnects afterwards. The Phaenyx personal plan ($29 free for a limited time) helps you write those decisions down for your home and country. See the Phaenyx plan.

Sources

1. Ready.gov (U.S. Department of Homeland Security / FEMA) — Earthquakes — https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. U.S. Geological Survey — What should I do DURING an earthquake? — https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-should-i-do-during-earthquake (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC), University of Southern California — Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills - Drop, Cover, and Hold On — https://www.shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Earthquake Country Alliance — Step 1: Secure Your Space — https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step1/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Cabinet Office of Japan, Disaster Management — 特集3 地震に備える (Feature 3: Preparing for Earthquakes), Bousai No. 83 — https://www.bousai.go.jp/kohou/kouhoubousai/h28/83/special_03.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED), Mexico — Qué hacer en caso de sismo — https://www.gob.mx/cenapred/articulos/que-hacer-en-caso-de-sismo-235583 (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED), Mexico — ¿Qué hacer después de un sismo? — https://www.gob.mx/cenapred/articulos/que-hacer-despues-de-un-sismo (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. Government of Canada — Earthquakes – Get prepared — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/hazards-emergencies/earthquakes/how-prepare.html (accessed 2026-10-20)