Earthquake Safety: What to Do During the Quake and Right After

On July 28, 2026, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu, Japan, killing 34 people and collapsing a shopping mall in Miyazaki. A new study suggests the next Big One on the San Andreas may arrive sooner than scientists once predicted.

The direct answer: when the ground moves, drop, cover, and hold on under the closest sturdy table. That one move separates the unhurt from the injured. (See preparing your home before the quake hits for prep; if the ground is shaking now, skip ahead.)

Earthquake Safety During the Shake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

The single most important earthquake safety move: drop, cover, and hold on.

1. DROP to your hands and knees before the shaking knocks you down. This keeps you low and below falling hazards.
2. COVER your head and neck with one arm and crawl under a sturdy table or desk if one is within a few steps. No table? Get against an inside wall, away from windows.
3. HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand. The ground moves sideways, not just up and down.

A few things that get people hurt:

• Do NOT run outside. Most injuries come from falling debris and toppled facades.
• Do NOT stand in a doorway. The old advice is wrong; modern doorways aren't structurally stronger.
• Ignore the "triangle of life." It's a debunked theory about lying next to furniture.

Do and Don't During an Earthquake

Do	Don't
Drop to your hands and knees immediately	Don't run outside or stand in a doorway
Get under a sturdy table and cover your head	Don't use elevators or stairs during the shake
Hold on to your shelter until it stops	Don't light matches or candles (gas leaks are common)
Stay away from windows and tall furniture	Don't move seriously injured people unless they're in danger

What to Do If You're Outside, Driving, or in Bed

If you're outside: move to an open area away from buildings, streetlights, utility poles, and overhead wires. Drop and cover your head until the shaking stops. Stay at least as far away as the building is tall.

If you're driving: pull over, set the parking brake, and stay in the vehicle. Avoid overpasses and bridges. A Midland ER310 Emergency Radio pulls NOAA alerts even if your phone has no signal. If power lines fall on your car, stay inside.

If you're in bed: stay there. Cover your head and neck with a pillow. Most quake injuries are stepping on broken glass in the dark.

If you're near the coast: a strong quake can trigger a tsunami within minutes. Drop, cover, and hold on, then move to high ground; don't wait for an official warning.

During Aftershocks: Expect Them, and Treat Each One Seriously

Kyushu saw hundreds of aftershocks after the July 28 quake, several strong enough to topple already-weakened structures.

• Use the same drill. Every aftershock gets the full drop, cover, and hold on.
• Stay out of damaged buildings. The biggest danger is a structure that survived the main quake collapsing on top of you.
• Keep information flowing. Power and cell service can be unavailable; keep a Midland ER310 Emergency Radio near your go-bag; its NOAA SAME alerts tell you when larger aftershocks are forecast.

The First 10 Minutes After the Shaking Stops

1. Check yourself and the people around you for injuries. Attend to any bleeding first.

2. Put on sturdy shoes. Broken glass will cover floors and streets.

3. Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas (rotten-egg odor) or hear a hiss, shut off the main valve outside with a quarter-turn wrench. Don't light matches. Only shut off the gas if you smell or hear a leak; an unnecessary shutdown can take utilities days to restore.

4. Look for fire hazards. If you smell smoke, shut off the main breaker (only if you can safely) and use a fire extinguisher. A UL-rated 1-A:10-B:C unit like the Kidde FA110G Home Fire Extinguisher (1-A:10-B:C) handles kitchen and small electrical fires; mount it near your exit.

5. Tune in to the radio or NOAA for emergency instructions. Cell service collapsed within minutes in the 2011 Tōhoku quake.

Treating Injuries and Bleeding With What You Have

Broken glass causes most quake injuries. Medical help can be hours away.

• Direct pressure first. Press a clean cloth firmly on the wound for 5–10 minutes. Add layers if it soaks through.
• Elevate the limb if possible. For severe bleeding, a tourniquet applied high and tight can save a life.
• Know what's in your kit. The First Aid Only 298-Piece All-Purpose Kit covers cuts, burns, and sprains for about $25. For grab-in-the-dark organization, the Surviveware Large First Aid Kit is the family favorite. For trauma, the MyMedic MyFAK Pro First Aid Kit comes with a tourniquet, chest seals, and hemostatic gauze.

What to Grab After the Shaking Stops

After you've accounted for injuries and checked the gas, make one pass for your essentials, then get outside.

• Go-bag or basics: meds, glasses, phone, wallet, keys
• Water and food (food and water storage guide)
• Power: a EcoFlow RIVER 3 Portable Power Station keeps phones and radios charged for days
• Warm layers and sturdy shoes even in summer
• Your emergency radio: Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

Grab what's within arm's reach and move to your safe meeting spot.

When Is It Safe to Re-enter?

People get hurt after the danger seems over.

• Don't re-enter a damaged building until it's been inspected. In Kyushu, people returning days after were injured when weakened buildings came down in aftershocks.
• Watch for: cracks in walls or foundations, leaning structures, stuck doors and windows, broken chimneys, fallen ceilings.
• Use stairs, never the elevator. Power can fail mid-ride.
• If you evacuated, wait for the official all-clear before going back.

What If You're Trapped?

The rule that saves lives: be loud enough to find, quietly enough to last.

• Conserve air and energy. Lie still, breathe slow.
• Tap, don't shout. Three knocks, pause, repeat on pipes or walls. Shouting burns air.
• Use a whistle. The Fox 40 Sonik Blast CMG Whistle stays loud wet or dusty.
• Cover your mouth with cloth if dust is thick; don't light matches.
• Text, don't call. A text uses far less bandwidth.

Panic is the enemy. Keep tapping.

Quick Recommendations

• Budget home first-aid: First Aid Only 298-Piece All-Purpose Kit
• Best all-around family kit: Surviveware Large First Aid Kit
• Trauma-ready: MyMedic MyFAK Pro First Aid Kit
• Power for multi-day outages: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Portable Power Station
• Stay informed during aftershocks: Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

The best prep is the one you actually do.

If the quake triggers a federal disaster declaration, FEMA's Individuals and Households Program can help with temporary housing and repair grants; the step-by-step walkthrough is in our FEMA disaster assistance guide.