Earthquake Preparedness & Safety Checklist: 14 Items
Prepare buildings and household plans for sudden earthquakes, aftershocks, and associated hazards.
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๐ก๏ธ Prepare Before an Emergency
Notes: Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Notes: Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Notes: Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Notes: Anchor items according to building and product guidance.
Anchor items according to building and product guidance.
Notes: Choose places away from falling glass or shelves.
Choose places away from falling glass or shelves.
Notes: Seek qualified local professional advice when appropriate.
Seek qualified local professional advice when appropriate.
Notes: Earthquakes may interrupt transport and utilities.
Earthquakes may interrupt transport and utilities.
โ ๏ธ Respond Safely When Needed
Notes: If indoors, stay inside and avoid running toward exits.
If indoors, stay inside and avoid running toward exits.
Notes: Be alert to falling glass and aftershocks.
Be alert to falling glass and aftershocks.
Notes: Strong or long shaking may require immediate higher-ground evacuation.
Strong or long shaking may require immediate higher-ground evacuation.
Notes: Use official building safety guidance.
Use official building safety guidance.
๐ Recover, Maintain & Review
Notes: Leave dangerous buildings to qualified inspectors.
Leave dangerous buildings to qualified inspectors.
Notes: Do not operate damaged utilities.
Do not operate damaged utilities.
Notes: Update the kit and emergency contacts.
Update the kit and emergency contacts.
Complete Guide
How to Use This Checklist
Prepare buildings and household plans for sudden earthquakes, aftershocks, and associated hazards.
Follow current alerts and instructions from local officials. Hazards, climate, geography, access requirements, and household needs can change which actions are appropriate.
Important Safety and Scope Notes
This practical checklist is an independent, English-language adaptation of the Ready.gov preparedness topic. It does not reproduce FEMA publications and is not endorsed by FEMA or any U.S. government agency.
Use this checklist to organize preparations and recovery tasks. In an active emergency, follow the latest official instructions rather than relying on a static checklist.
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Open a related checklist for supporting tasks and household planning.
Sources & Official Guidance
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