When the shaking starts
- Drop, Cover, Hold On. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with your arms, and hold on to something sturdy until the shaking stops. Ready.gov
- Get under something. Crawl under a sturdy table or desk. If there isn't one, get next to an interior wall away from windows. Red Cross
- Don't stand in a doorway. Ready.gov
- Don't run outside. Stay inside until the shaking stops. Ready.gov
- In bed: stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Ready.gov
- Driving: pull over in a clear spot away from buildings, trees, overpasses and power lines. Ready.gov
- Outdoors: move to open ground away from buildings, power lines and trees. Red Cross
After the shaking
- Look before you move. Wait a minute, check for dangers, put on sturdy shoes for broken glass, and help anyone who's hurt. Red Cross
- Smell gas? Get out and call 911. Don't use matches, lighters or light switches. Red Cross
- Expect aftershocks. Drop, Cover and Hold On every time. If your home isn't safe, leave with your go-kit. Ready.gov
- Near the coast? Get to high ground as soon as the shaking stops. Don't wait for a tsunami warning. Ready.gov
When the network is jammedAfter a big quake, phone networks overload. The kit's first-aid references and Storm Mesh radios keep working without them.
The basic kit
Ready.gov's basic kit includes water (one gallon per person per day for several days), several days of food, a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, extra batteries, a whistle, a manual can opener, local maps, and a phone with chargers and a backup battery. Ready.gov NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts warnings around the clock from more than 1,000 transmitters. NWS
Sources checked November 8, 2026. This guide summarizes official advice and isn't a substitute for instructions from local emergency officials.