Preparation tips

• Develop an earthquake safety action plan for your family identifying places that can provide the highest amount of protection during an earthquake as well as an escape route and off-premises meeting place.
• Become familiar with your community's disaster preparedness plan.
• Teach family members how to shut off water, gas and electricity to the house.
• Purchase at least one multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher.
• Install smoke detectors and change the batteries every six months.
• Prepare an emergency supplies kit including a three day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food, as well as a manual can opener, paper plates, cups, utensils, first-aid kit, flashlight and battery-operated radio with extra batteries.
• Retrofit your home's structure to better withstand the forces of an earthquake. This is a job for a professional architect, engineer or building contractor.
• Retrofit nonstructural areas of your home to protect your personal property.
• Attach cabinets and bookcases to the wall using brackets.
• Secure heavy objects (e.g. television, stereos, computers, armoires) with brackets or safety straps.
• Secure picture frames, bulletin boards and mirrors to walls using closed eye screws into wall studs.
• Secure ceiling lights to supports using safety cables.
• Apply safety film to windows and glass doors.
• Anchor large appliances (e.g. refrigerator, stove) to walls using safety cables or straps.
• Install flexible gas lines and automatic gas shutoff valves.
• Tack down glassware, heirlooms and figurines with putty.
• Install latches on kitchen cabinet doors to prevent items from falling.

  Safety tips

• At the first sign of an earthquake, drop and take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an inside wall away from objects that may fall on you.
• Sit or stay close to the floor and hold on to furniture legs for balance.
• Use your arm to cover and protect your eyes.
• If there's no sturdy furniture nearby, kneel or sit close to the floor next to a structurally sound interior wall away from windows, shelves, or furniture that could fall and place your hands on the floor for balance.
• Stay away from doorways, violent motion could cause the doors to slam against your body, crush your fingers or inflict other serious injuries.
• Do not run outside.
• If outdoors, quickly move into the open, away from electrical lines, trees and buildings.
• If driving, bring your vehicle to a stop at the side of the road away from traffic.
• Do not stop on or under bridges, near or under power lines or road signs.

Recovery tips

• Be alert for aftershocks.
• Look for injured victims and administer first aid.
• Pay attention to damaged utilities.  Avoid loose or dangling electric power lines and report all gas and electrical problems to the proper authorities.
• Turn off any damaged utilities.
• Check for fire hazards and use flashlights instead of candles or lanterns.
• Wear protective shoes. Have them by your bed in case the earthquake happens in the middle of the night.
• If your building is sound, stay inside and listen for radio advisories.

Special thanks to the following organizations for their contributions to this information.

• American Red Cross
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  - Verified Earthquake Preparation and Safety on FEMA website
• California Seismic Safety Commission
• California Contractors State License Board
• Institute for Business and Home Safety