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Understanding Earthquake Risk and Preparation Basics

Earthquakes occur when stress built up along geological faults or plate boundaries suddenly releases, causing the ground to shake. The United States experiences thousands of earthquakes annually, though most are too small for people to feel. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 20 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 to 5.9 occur each year worldwide, and one magnitude 8.0 or greater happens roughly once per year on average.

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Certain regions of the United States face higher earthquake risk than others. California experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the San Andreas Fault system. The Pacific Northwest, including Washington and Oregon, sits along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Alaska experiences more earthquakes than any other state, with thousands recorded annually. However, earthquakes can and do occur in unexpected locations—a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck New Madrid, Missouri, in 1811, and the 2011 Virginia earthquake demonstrated that eastern states are not immune to significant seismic events.

Preparation involves understanding your specific risk level, knowing how to protect yourself during shaking, and planning how your household will communicate and reunite afterward. This differs significantly from other natural disasters because earthquakes strike without warning and last only seconds to minutes. Unlike hurricanes or tornadoes, you cannot watch an earthquake approach on weather radar or receive hours of advance notice.

A free earthquake preparation guide typically explains how earthquake magnitude and intensity differ, what happens to buildings and infrastructure during shaking, and why certain preparation steps matter. Understanding the "why" behind recommendations helps households implement strategies more effectively. The guide should describe real examples of past earthquakes and their impacts on different types of buildings and communities.

Practical Takeaway: Learn your local earthquake risk by checking the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake hazard maps for your state and county. Understanding whether you live in a high, moderate, or low-risk zone informs which preparation measures are most important for your situation.

Securing Your Home and Identifying Hazards

One of the most important earthquake preparation steps involves identifying and securing loose items that can become projectiles or fall hazards during shaking. During a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in Northridge, California, in 1994, falling objects caused numerous injuries even in homes that suffered no structural damage. Water heaters, bookshelves, televisions, and kitchen cabinets can topple or shift during strong shaking, potentially causing serious injury or death.

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Heavy furniture and appliances should be secured to wall studs using earthquake straps, L-brackets, or specialized bracing systems. A water heater, which typically weighs 40 to 100 pounds when full, can move significantly during shaking and damage gas lines or water connections. Similarly, large mirrors, picture frames, and shelving units above sleeping areas or frequent gathering spaces pose particular risks. Large televisions mounted on stands or walls should be secured using appropriate hardware rated for their weight.

Kitchen cabinets represent another common hazard. Dishes, glasses, and food containers can spill from open shelves and fall on people below. Cabinet latches or locks keep doors closed during shaking, preventing contents from falling. Under-cabinet lighting fixtures and other mounted items should also be secured. In bathrooms, medicine cabinets attached to walls above sinks can become dangerous during shaking.

A preparation guide typically includes a room-by-room hazard checklist and diagrams showing proper securing techniques for different items. The guide may describe how to identify which walls contain studs (necessary for secure fastening), explain different types of fastening hardware, and clarify why certain securing methods work better than others. Real examples show how homes that implemented these measures experienced property damage but no injuries, compared to similar homes where falling objects caused harm.

Practical Takeaway: Walk through each room of your home with a family member and identify items that could fall, shift, or cause injury during shaking. Prioritize securing the heaviest items in bedrooms and the items most likely to cause harm if they fall. Begin with your bedroom and the rooms where you spend the most time.

Developing a Household Communication and Reunification Plan

After a significant earthquake, telephone networks often become congested, making calls difficult or impossible for hours or even days. However, text messages sometimes go through when voice calls cannot, because text uses less network bandwidth. A free preparation guide should explain how to establish a communication plan that your household can reference after an earthquake when stress and confusion are high.

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A basic household communication plan identifies an out-of-state contact person—someone living far enough away that they were not affected by the earthquake. Each family member should know this person's phone number and email address. The idea is that after an earthquake, family members who cannot reach each other locally can each call or text the out-of-state contact to report their location and status. That contact person becomes a central information hub where others can check for updates.

The plan should also address where family members will reunite if they are separated when the earthquake occurs. For families with children in school, this might mean the child stays at school while a parent picks them up, or they meet at a designated location if the school is damaged. Workplace locations matter too—where will you try to meet if separated from a spouse or partner during work hours? The guide should explain how to teach children memorized phone numbers and addresses, since smartphones will be useless if the battery dies and charging is unavailable.

Written copies of this plan should be kept in multiple locations: at home, in vehicles, at workplaces, and in backpacks or bags that family members carry. A sample plan in the guide typically shows how to customize the template for different family structures—single adults, families with children, multi-generational households, and people with mobility challenges or medical needs. The guide may describe how other families successfully reunited after real earthquakes by following these steps.

Practical Takeaway: Identify an out-of-state contact person today and share their information with all household members. Write your plan on paper and place copies where you actually are during your day—in your car, at work, in your child's backpack, and at home. Review the plan twice yearly, such as during springtime and before autumn.

Preparing an Earthquake Emergency Supply Kit

An earthquake can damage water treatment facilities, electric power lines, and roads, disrupting supplies for days or weeks. Federal emergency management guidance recommends that households maintain supplies to sustain themselves for at least two weeks, though a minimum of three days represents a practical starting point. A preparation guide typically details what items to include and why each item matters.

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Water represents the most critical supply. Each person needs one gallon per day for drinking and basic sanitation. For a family of four, a two-week supply requires 56 gallons. Storing water in food-grade containers away from direct sunlight keeps it safe. Store-bought bottled water, sealed and stored properly, remains viable for six months to one year. Tap water stored in sealed containers lasts about six months. The guide should explain how to rotate supplies—using older supplies first and replacing them to maintain freshness.

Non-perishable food should require no cooking if power is lost. Ready-to-eat meals, canned goods, granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, and nuts all work well. Include a manual can opener. Food supplies should address any dietary restrictions or allergies in your household. Pet food and water must not be forgotten—your pets depend on you just as family members do.

A first aid kit should include bandages, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids, and any prescription medications your household requires. Earthquake injuries often include cuts and minor wounds. Include items specific to your household's medical needs: insulin for diabetics, inhalers for people with asthma, or heart medications. The guide typically recommends including a first aid manual explaining how to treat common injuries.

Additional items include a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, medications, copies of important documents, cash (ATMs and card readers will not work), a change of clothes and sturdy shoes for each person, blankets or sleeping bags, a whistle for signaling, and plastic sheeting and duct tape for temporary repairs. Items should be stored in a clearly labeled, easily accessible container that all household members know the location of.

Practical Takeaway: Begin by purchasing water and food supplies this week—no special preparation skills are needed. Store these