HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR AN EARTHQUAKE
Earthquake readiness is less about buying a special kit and more about making your home safer, protecting essential supplies, and deciding what your household will do when normal systems stop working.
Pacific Northwest earthquakes can come from deep underground, shallow faults near populated areas, or the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Each can cause intense shaking, damaged utilities, blocked roads, falling objects, and extended disruptions.
You cannot prevent an earthquake. You can make its consequences more manageable.
BEGIN WITH THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COULD GET HURT
Walk through your home and look for anything that could fall, slide, shatter, or block an exit during strong shaking.
Start where people sleep and spend the most time.
Look for:
Tall bookcases, cabinets, and shelving that are not secured
Televisions, computers, and other heavy electronics that could fall
Mirrors, framed pictures, or shelving above beds and seating
Heavy objects stored on upper shelves
Cabinets that could swing open and release glassware
Hanging lights, plants, or decorations that could fall
Furniture or stored items that could block a doorway
Water heaters that are not properly braced
Move heavy and breakable objects to lower shelves. Secure tall furniture to wall framing with appropriate hardware. Add cabinet latches where falling contents could cause injury.
If you rent, ask the property owner before making structural changes. You can still relocate hazardous items and use removable safety products where appropriate.
Do not assume that a large object is safe because it has never moved before. Earthquake forces act differently from ordinary bumps or movement.
MAKE THE BEDROOM SAFER
An earthquake may happen at night, leaving broken glass and fallen objects between you and the exit.
Keep these beside or beneath each occupied bed:
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
A flashlight or headlamp
Work gloves
Corrective glasses, hearing devices, or mobility equipment when needed
Secure heavy furniture near beds, and remove heavy wall decorations or shelving positioned above sleeping areas.
Everyone should know to remain in bed and protect their head with a pillow if shaking begins while they are sleeping, unless something directly above the bed creates an immediate danger.
KNOW WHAT TO DO WHILE THE GROUND IS SHAKING
When shaking begins:
Drop onto your hands and knees so the movement does not knock you down.
Cover your head and neck. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it.
Hold On to the shelter or continue protecting your head and neck until the shaking stops.
If you use a wheelchair or walker, lock the wheels when possible, remain seated and protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow or another available object. Do not attempt to transfer during the shaking.
Do not run outside during the shaking. Exterior walls, windows, signs, masonry, and building materials can fall near entrances.
If you are already outside, move away from buildings, trees, utility lines, and other objects that could fall.
If you are driving, pull over somewhere clear of bridges, overpasses, trees, buildings, and utility lines. Set the parking brake and remain in the vehicle until the shaking stops.
Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with everyone in the household. Knowing the words is not the same as having practiced the movement.
CREATE A HOUSEHOLD EARTHQUAKE PLAN
Household members may be at work, school, or elsewhere when an earthquake occurs. Phone service, roads, and public transportation may be disrupted.
Agree on:
A safe meeting place near your home
A second meeting place outside your neighborhood
An out-of-area contact everyone can reach
Who will collect children, pets, or household members needing assistance
How everyone will communicate if calls do not connect
Which official alert systems your household will follow
Where essential supplies and emergency information are stored
Write the plan down. Give every household member a copy and store another copy with your emergency supplies.
Text messages may sometimes connect when voice calls do not, but no communication method is guaranteed. Avoid unnecessary calls immediately after a disaster so damaged networks remain available for urgent needs.
PREPARE FOR INTERRUPTED UTILITIES
Earthquakes can damage water, electrical, sewer, and natural-gas systems.
Every responsible adult in the household should know where utility controls are located and how to recognize a potential problem.
Do not shut off natural gas simply because an earthquake occurred. Shut it off only if you smell gas, hear escaping gas, see a damaged line, or receive instructions from the utility or public authorities—and only when it is safe to do so.
If you suspect a gas leak:
Do not use flames, matches, candles, switches, or electrical equipment
Leave the building
Move away from the suspected leak
Contact the gas utility or emergency services from a safe location
Do not attempt to restore gas service yourself
Know where the main water shutoff is located. Damaged household pipes can contaminate stored water or cause substantial property damage.
Keep the correct shutoff tool accessible, but do not improvise utility work beyond your knowledge or ability.
BUILD SUPPLIES FOR A DISRUPTION, NOT A PARTICULAR PREDICTION
Start by making your household dependable for three days, then expand gradually toward the longer supply level recommended by Washington Emergency Management.
Prioritize:
Drinking water for every person and pet
Familiar food that does not require refrigeration
A safe way to open and prepare stored food
Flashlights or headlamps with replacement batteries
Portable power banks and charging cables
Required medications and health supplies
First-aid supplies
Hygiene and sanitation supplies
Warm clothing, blankets, and weather protection
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Pet food, medication, carriers, leashes, and identification
Copies of essential household information
Store supplies where they are accessible after shaking. A large cache is not useful if it is buried beneath fallen shelving or stored in a damaged area.
Avoid stacking heavy containers where they could topple. Divide essential supplies between more than one safe location when practical.
Use and replace stored food, water, medications, and batteries as part of ordinary household life.
PROTECT WATER AND FOOD
Broken pipes and loss of electricity can affect both water and food safety.
Store commercially bottled water or water in containers intended for drinking-water storage. Keep it away from chemicals, fuel, heat, and direct sunlight. Follow the container manufacturer’s storage and replacement guidance.
IF YOUR WATER SERVICE CHANGES AFTER SHAKING
Damaged pipes, loss of pressure, an interrupted supply, and an official water advisory require different actions. Water that looks or smells normal can still be unsafe. Use the Weatherstead Water Decision Tool to identify the situation and find the safest next step.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage. Never decide that food is safe based only on its appearance or smell. When uncertain, follow current food-safety instructions from public-health authorities.
Never use charcoal grills, camp stoves, generators, or other fuel-burning equipment inside a home, garage, basement, or other enclosed area. Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled and can be fatal.
PREPARE FOR MEDICAL AND ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS
Earthquake planning must account for the people who actually live in the household.
Consider:
Prescription medications
Electrically powered medical equipment
Mobility devices
Corrective glasses and hearing devices
Infant supplies
Refrigerated medications
Communication or sensory needs
Assistance animals
Transportation to appropriate care
If someone depends on powered medical equipment or temperature-controlled medication, develop a continuity plan with their healthcare provider, pharmacist, equipment supplier, and electric utility. General preparedness advice cannot replace individual medical guidance.
Keep necessary mobility equipment and protective footwear somewhere they are unlikely to be trapped by falling objects.
INCLUDE PETS FROM THE BEGINNING
Pet readiness is household readiness.
Prepare:
Food and water
Medication
Identification and current contact information
A leash, harness, or carrier
Sanitation supplies
Comfort items
Copies of veterinary information
A recent photograph of each animal
At least one evacuation destination that will accept the animal
Keep carriers and leashes where they can be reached quickly. Practice getting animals into carriers before an emergency.
Do not assume every public shelter will accept household pets.
KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE IN A TSUNAMI AREA
People living, working, or traveling near the Pacific coast or parts of Puget Sound may also face tsunami risk.
Strong or prolonged earthquake shaking can be a natural tsunami warning. A local tsunami may arrive before an official alert does.
If you are in a tsunami evacuation area and experience strong or prolonged shaking:
Drop, Cover, and Hold On during the earthquake
Move inland or to higher ground as soon as the shaking stops
Follow marked evacuation routes
Do not wait for an official warning
Remain outside the hazard area until authorities say it is safe to return
Learn evacuation routes before an earthquake and practice traveling them on foot. Roads may be damaged or congested.
CHECK WHETHER YOUR HOME NEEDS PROFESSIONAL HELP
Some earthquake risks cannot be corrected with straps or cabinet latches.
Older homes, unreinforced masonry, damaged foundations, unsupported cripple walls, and masonry chimneys may require professional evaluation or structural work.
Consider obtaining qualified advice if:
The home is older and has not been evaluated for earthquake resistance
The building is not securely connected to its foundation
A masonry chimney shows damage or deterioration
The property contains unreinforced brick or block walls
Previous remodeling may have changed structural walls
The home is on a steep slope or unstable ground
You are unsure whether a water heater or major appliance is properly secured
Do not rely on a visual inspection alone for structural conclusions. Consult a qualified contractor, engineer, or local building authority.
AFTER THE SHAKING STOPS
Expect aftershocks. Drop, Cover, and Hold On again whenever shaking returns.
Check yourself and others for injuries before moving around. Wear sturdy shoes and gloves where broken glass or debris may be present.
Then:
Leave seriously damaged buildings
Check for fire, smoke, gas odors, damaged wiring, and leaking pipes
Do not enter a building that appears structurally unsafe
Stay away from fallen utility lines
Use flashlights instead of candles
Follow official local instructions
Check on neighbors when it is safe, especially those who may need assistance
Avoid unnecessary travel
Do not return to evacuated areas until authorities permit it
Earthquake damage may not be immediately visible. Use caution around chimneys, masonry, ceilings, decks, retaining walls, and damaged utilities.
MAKE READINESS PART OF THE HOUSE
Earthquake preparation does not need to become a separate lifestyle.
Secure one piece of furniture. Move one heavy object. Put shoes and a flashlight beside each bed. Write down the household meeting places. Store several days of water. Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
Then continue improving the household a little at a time.
The goal is not to predict exactly what will happen. The goal is to reduce preventable injuries and give your household a dependable starting point when the ground stops moving.
PRINTABLE HOUSEHOLD EARTHQUAKE DRILL CARD
Knowing what to do becomes easier when your household has practiced it. Use this one-page drill card to practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On, check your surroundings, and choose one improvement to make afterward.
DOWNLOAD THE EARTHQUAKE DRILL CARD (PDF) →
Based on guidance from Washington Emergency Management and the Great Washington ShakeOut.
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Weatherstead provides general educational information, not emergency, medical, engineering, legal, or professional safety advice. Follow current instructions from local authorities and consult qualified professionals when appropriate.
