Earthquake Preparedness: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Earthquakes strike with little warning, and the outcome of your safety depends largely on what you decide to do in the first few seconds. Yet many people rely on misconceptions about earthquake safety that can actually increase their risk of injury. Understanding these common pitfalls—and correcting them now—can make the difference between a close call and a serious injury.

The good news is that earthquake preparedness is achievable for everyone. It does not require expensive equipment or professional installation. By addressing the most common mistakes in preparation, planning, and response, you can significantly improve your chances of staying safe when the ground starts to shake.

This guide walks through the major pitfalls that leave people vulnerable, and shows you exactly how to avoid them—both before an earthquake happens and in the critical moments when it does.

Myth One: Run Outside Immediately

One of the most dangerous instincts during an earthquake is to bolt for the door or window. Many people believe that open space outdoors is the safest place, but the opposite is usually true. When people instinctively try to run outdoors, it is often extremely dangerous because in most situations, it is safer to Drop, Cover, and Hold On indoors.

Running exposes you to windows and mirrors that can shatter violently during earthquakes, causing many earthquake injuries. Falling debris, broken glass, and structural components pose far greater risk than the shaking itself inside a building. During an earthquake, you should Drop, Cover, and Hold On to protect yourself from falling debris, and practice with your entire household so everyone knows what to do.

The Drop, Cover, and Hold On Technique

Why This Works

You should DROP where you are onto your hands and knees—this position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to crawl to a protected space. Next, COVER your head and neck with your arms, and if a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for protection.

If you cannot find a protected space, crawl to an interior wall (away from windows), stay on your knees and bend over to protect yourself from injury. Finally, HOLD ON until the shaking stops—if you are under a table or desk, hold onto it as things will be moving, and use an arm to protect your head and neck.

Position-Specific Guidance

Where you are when shaking begins determines your best action. If you are in bed, STAY there and COVER your head and neck with a pillow. If you are outdoors, drop, then crawl towards open space if you can, and stay away from buildings, power lines, and trees. If you are driving, stop and stay in your vehicle, avoiding stopping near buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Pitfall Two: The Doorway Myth

A widespread belief holds that standing in a doorway is the safest protection during an earthquake. A common misconception in seeking cover is that doorways offer the best protection during an earthquake. This idea, sometimes called the "Triangle of Life," has circulated for decades but lacks scientific foundation.

Modern homes and buildings are designed so that doorways do not provide greater protection than other interior spaces. Doorways are often in the path of falling debris, and they place you in the middle of a hallway rather than protected under sturdy furniture. A sturdy desk or table remains the superior choice when one is available nearby.

Pitfall Three: Skipping Home Hazard Mitigation

Mitigating measures can include firmly securing large items of furniture (such as bookcases and large cabinets), TV and computer screens that may otherwise fall over in an earthquake, and avoiding storing items above beds or sofas reduces the chance of objects falling on individuals.

Securing your environment before an earthquake is one of the most effective preparedness steps, yet many households overlook it entirely. Secure heavy furniture like bookcases, dressers, and water heaters to wall studs with anti-tip anchors or straps, and move heavy and breakable items to low shelves, keeping beds and seating areas away from tall furniture and large windows.

Pitfall Four: Inadequate Emergency Supplies

Many people prepare a basic first aid kit and assume they are ready, but earthquake emergencies demand more. A basic first aid kit isn't built for earthquake injuries—your earthquake kit needs trauma-grade bleeding control, splinting materials, dust masks, and enough supplies for several days, and should include first aid, lighting, and sanitation supplies together.

A supply kit should include enough food and water for several days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle. Beyond these essentials, a bed-kit (a bag of supplies attached to your bed) is helpful for supplies you will need if an earthquake happens while you are sleeping, including sturdy shoes to protect your feet from glass, a flashlight, glasses, a dust mask, and a whistle.

Pitfall Five: No Communication Plan

After a major earthquake, phone networks become overwhelmed. Using a cell phone takes up the same bandwidth as far more text messages, and after a disaster, use of cell phones can shutdown wireless phone service and prevent 911 calls from getting through—to communicate after an earthquake, send a text, don't call.

Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact and plan where to meet if you get separated. Designate one person outside the affected area as the hub; everyone else contacts that person rather than calling each other. Text messages use less bandwidth and often get through when calls can't, and everyone calls the same out-of-state contact with updates.

Pitfall Six: Ignoring Aftershocks

Many people relax and let their guard down after the initial shaking stops, but aftershocks follow the main shock of an earthquake, and you should be ready to Drop, Cover and Hold On if you feel an aftershock. As the Earth settles from its trembling it can produce a series of smaller quakes known as aftershocks, and on rare occasions, a second earthquake that's even bigger than the first might follow.

Aftershocks can be nearly as strong as the initial earthquake, and they often strike when structures are already weakened. Maintain your protective posture and stay alert for additional shaking in the hours and days following the initial event.

Pitfall Seven: Dangerous Actions After the Shaking Stops

Once shaking ends, many people make unsafe choices that increase injury risk. Do not light a match or turn on a light switch—use a flashlight instead. Never touch fallen power lines.

Check the gas and electric lines, and turn them off if you can do so safely, and if you are inside a heavily damaged structure, get yourself and others out as soon as possible. If you smell gas (rotten egg odor), open windows, leave immediately, and shut off gas from outside if you can do so safely.

Do not go sightseeing—leave the streets clear for emergency and rescue vehicles.

Essential Preparation Steps 📋

• 📌 Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your entire household at least twice per year so muscle memory kicks in during an actual earthquake
• 📌 Identify and secure hazards in your home—heavy furniture, water heaters, and breakable items that can fall or tip
• 📌 Build an earthquake supply kit that includes water, food, first aid and trauma supplies, flashlight, and communication tools
• 📌 Create a family communication plan with an out-of-state contact and a designated meeting spot if separated
• 📌 Know your building's weaknesses—older homes or soft-story structures may need seismic evaluation or retrofit
• 📌 Keep important documents safe—store hard copies or securely back up personal, financial, and medical records

Building-Level Preparedness

One important way to prepare for an earthquake is to try to make your home as safe as possible, and for old homes, it's a good idea to investigate whether it complies with local building codes and identify potential weaknesses. Soft-story buildings, homes on unstable soils, and mobile homes face elevated risk and may benefit from professional evaluation.

If you rent rather than own, talk with your landlord or building manager about securing heavy furniture and appliances. Many property owners welcome the conversation, knowing that a safer building is better for everyone.

Being prepared for earthquakes is not about fear—it is about practical readiness. When you understand the most common pitfalls and take the time to address them, you shift from uncertainty to confidence. Your preparedness today determines your response tomorrow. Start with one step: practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your household this week, then gradually address the other preparations outlined here. Earthquake readiness is a habit, not a single purchase, and the households that prepare on a regular schedule are the ones whose actions and supplies actually work when an earthquake strikes.