Earthquake Preparedness: What to Buy Before the Ground Shakes
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There’s no way to predict exactly when or where the next earthquake will strike, but there’s very little mystery about what helps once one does. FEMA, Ready.gov, the Red Cross, and earthquake safety agencies have spent years refining a fairly short, practical list of supplies and safety steps that can make the first hours and days after a quake easier to manage.
It’s worth remembering that the shaking itself is often not the only problem. It’s what happens afterward: no power, no water, blocked roads, gas leaks, damaged buildings, broken glass, and aftershocks that can continue for days. Preparing isn’t about fear. It’s about making those first uncertain hours safer and less chaotic.
Quick Earthquake Preparedness Checklist
If you’re building an earthquake kit from scratch, start with the basics first: water, food, light, first aid, a radio, backup power, sturdy shoes, work gloves, dust masks, important documents, cash, and a way to shut off utilities if there is damage or a suspected leak.
After that, secure the things in your home that could fall during shaking, including tall furniture, water heaters, cabinets, TVs, mirrors, framed pictures, and heavy objects on shelves. A good earthquake plan should also cover where your family will meet, how you’ll contact each other if cell service is poor, what you’ll do if you’re away from home, and what supplies pets, babies, seniors, or anyone with medical needs will require.
Water and Food
Water is the single most important item in any earthquake kit. Ready.gov recommends one gallon of water per person, per day, for several days, for drinking and basic sanitation. Municipal water systems can be disrupted after a major quake, sometimes for longer than people expect, so emergency water storage containers kept filled and rotated are worth having on hand before you need them.
Pair that with a few days of non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking or added water. Dried fruit, protein bars, crackers, nut butters, and shelf-stable meals are usually easier to manage than anything that needs a stove. If your kit does include canned food, a manual can opener is an easy thing to forget until you actually need one.
Light, Power, and Staying Informed
Once the shaking stops, the next problem is often darkness, no power, and unreliable cell service. A reliable flashlight with extra batteries kept by the bed matters more than it sounds. Broken glass on the floor is one of the most common post-quake hazards, and you don’t want to be searching for light barefoot in the dark.
A hand-crank or battery-powered NOAA weather radio can still pick up emergency broadcasts when phones can’t get a signal. A portable power bank is worth keeping charged for exactly this reason, for one or two important calls, not for browsing. And an emergency whistle is a small thing that solves a real problem: shouting for help if you’re trapped is exhausting and doesn’t carry as well, while a whistle does.
First Aid and Personal Safety
A well-stocked first aid kit with bandages, gauze, antiseptic, pain relievers, and any prescription medications rotated in regularly covers most of what comes up in the first day or two. N95 dust masks help during cleanup, especially in older buildings where debris and dust may be more of a concern, and a pair of heavy-duty work gloves makes clearing broken glass, splintered wood, or fallen objects much safer.
It’s also worth keeping sturdy, thick-soled shoes near the bed specifically, not in a closet across the room. If glass breaks during the night, you need to be able to protect your feet before walking through the room. A fire extinguisher rounds out this category. Damaged wiring, tipped appliances, and gas leaks can make post-quake fires a serious risk.
Utility Shutoff Tools
If you smell gas, hear hissing, see a broken gas line, or local officials tell you to shut utilities off after a quake, you don’t want to be hunting for the right tool. A non-sparking wrench kept near your gas shutoff valve can help you turn it off quickly if it’s safe to do so.
Don’t turn gas off just because an earthquake happened, and don’t turn it back on yourself once it’s been shut off. Gas service may need to be restored by a professional. It’s also worth keeping plastic sheeting and duct tape in your kit in case you need to temporarily seal a room from dust, smoke, or outside air contaminants.
Secure Your Home Before It Shakes
Most emergency kit lists stop at what to grab afterward. This category is different. It’s about preventing injury and damage in the first place, and it’s the part most people skip.
Furniture anchor straps secure bookshelves, dressers, and cabinets to wall studs so they can’t tip over during shaking. A water heater strap kit is a standard retrofitting step, since a water heater that topples can rupture pipes or gas lines. Cabinet and drawer latches keep doors from flying open and spilling glassware or household chemicals, and museum putty anchors TVs, lamps, and breakables to shelves and stands.
Even something as small as swapping standard open picture hooks for closed hooks can help keep framed items from bouncing off the wall during shaking.
Know What To Do During Shaking
Supplies matter, but they won’t help much if you don’t know what to do when the shaking starts. The basic advice is still Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or desk if you can, and hold on until the shaking stops. If you’re indoors, don’t run outside during the shaking, as glass, bricks, signs, and other debris can fall near building exits.
If you’re outside, move into an open area away from buildings, power lines, trees, chimneys, and anything else that could fall. If you’re driving, pull over carefully when it’s safe, avoid bridges and overpasses, and stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops.
Documents and Cash
A waterproof document pouch with copies of ID, insurance policies, medical information, emergency contacts, and other important paperwork means you can grab what you need quickly if you have to evacuate. It’s also worth keeping some cash in small bills on hand, as card readers and ATMs may not work without power.
Household Needs, Pets, and Mini Kits
A standard earthquake kit is a starting point, not the whole picture. Add anything your household would realistically need for several days, including prescription medication, glasses or contact lenses, baby formula, diapers, pet food, pet medication, mobility supplies, phone charging cables, hygiene products, toilet paper, wet wipes, garbage bags, and a change of clothes.
It’s also worth keeping smaller kits in your car, workplace, or school bag, especially if you live in an earthquake-prone area. A small flashlight, water, snacks, basic first aid, a power bank, and sturdy shoes can make a big difference if you’re not at home when the shaking starts.
Aftershocks, Tsunamis, and Local Alerts
Aftershocks can happen after the main earthquake, so don’t assume the danger is over once the first shaking stops. Check yourself and others for injuries, use flashlights instead of candles, avoid damaged buildings, and listen for local emergency instructions.
If you’re near the coast and the shaking is strong or long, move to higher ground or inland once the shaking stops. A local tsunami can arrive quickly, and waiting for an official warning may not always be safe. The Red Cross earthquake guidance also recommends staying alert for aftershocks and checking for hazards after shaking ends.
In parts of the western United States, ShakeAlert-powered alerts may also give a few seconds of warning before strong shaking arrives. Those seconds are short, but they can be enough to drop, cover, and hold on before the strongest shaking reaches your area.
Keeping It Ready
An emergency kit only helps if it’s actually accessible when you need it. Store it somewhere easy to reach, check batteries every few months, rotate water and food, and update medications, documents, and pet supplies as needed.
None of this requires predicting the next earthquake. It just means the first few hours afterward are a little less chaotic than they’d otherwise be.