Weather and Nature

What to do during an earthquake

The official advice is the same almost everywhere: drop, cover your head and hold on until the shaking stops. Running outside while it shakes is what injures most people.

Automatic information from scientific catalogues. In an emergency, follow your local emergency service and geological survey.

How to read these numbers

Most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and from people falling over while trying to move during the shaking. That is why the procedure is to stay put, get low and protect your head and neck.

Before

  • Strap shelves, televisions and tall cabinets to the wall.
  • Keep a torch and closed shoes beside the bed.
  • Store water, non-perishable food, medicines and documents for three days.
  • Agree a meeting point with your family and an out-of-town contact.

During

  • Drop, cover your head and hold on to something solid until it stops.
  • Indoors, move away from windows and from furniture that can topple.
  • Outdoors, head for open ground, away from facades, walls and cables.
  • In a car, pull over somewhere safe, away from bridges and overpasses, and wait.
  • Never use a lift.

After

  • Expect aftershocks, which usually come in the first hours.
  • Check for gas by smell; do not light a flame or flip a switch.
  • Use your phone for emergencies only, preferably text rather than calls.
  • On the coast, if the shaking was strong or long, move to high ground without waiting for a tsunami warning.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stand in a doorway?
No. That advice applies to old adobe houses. In a modern building the doorway is no stronger than the rest of the structure and it exposes you to swinging doors.
How long until a tsunami arrives?
If the epicentre is close to the coast, the first wave can arrive in ten to twenty minutes, before any official warning. Strong shaking near the sea is reason enough to go uphill immediately.

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