Where To Go During An Earthquake

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Indoor Protocol: Drop, Cover, and Hold On
3. Where to Go If You Are Outdoors
4. What to Do If You Are Driving
5. Unique Environments: Mountains and Coastlines
6. Where to Go After the Shaking Stops
7. Essential Gear for Earthquake Preparedness
8. Step-by-Step: Preparing Your Home Base
9. Common Mistakes to Avoid
10. Conclusion
11. FAQ

Introduction

An earthquake doesn’t give you a warning. One second you are sitting at your desk or hiking a trail, and the next, the ground beneath you is moving with violent force. Most people have a natural "fight or flight" response, but in a seismic event, your first instinct is often the most dangerous one. Running for the exit or standing in a doorway are outdated tactics that can lead to serious injury. At BattlBox, we believe that the best gear in the world is only as effective as the knowledge of the person using it, which is why we recommend you get gear delivered monthly. This guide focuses on the immediate physical actions you must take to stay safe. We will cover exactly where to go whether you are at home, in your car, or out in the wilderness. Having a plan now ensures you move with purpose when the shaking starts.

Quick Answer: If you are indoors, the safest place is under a sturdy piece of furniture using the "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" technique. Stay away from windows and outer walls. If you are outdoors, move to a clear area away from buildings, power lines, and trees.

The Indoor Protocol: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

Most earthquake injuries occur when people try to move to a different location inside the building or attempt to leave. Modern building codes are designed to prevent total collapse, but they cannot prevent interior items from becoming projectiles. Your goal is to minimize your target size and protect your vital organs. For the broader prep side, start with our how to prepare for an earthquake.

The Three Vital Steps

When the shaking starts, do not look for a "safer" room. Follow these steps immediately:

Step 1: Drop onto your hands and knees. / This position protects you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low to the ground while moving if necessary.

Step 2: Cover your head and neck with one arm. / If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is available, crawl next to an interior wall away from windows.

Step 3: Hold On to your shelter. / Earthquakes move things. If you are under a table, hold onto one of its legs with one hand so the shelter stays over you as it shifts.

Why Doorways Are No Longer Recommended

You may have heard that a doorway is the safest place to stand. This is a survival myth based on older unreinforced adobe homes where the door frame was the only thing left standing after a quake. In modern homes, doorways are no more structural than any other part of the wall. Standing in one leaves you vulnerable to the door swinging violently or the ceiling dropping debris on you. For a deeper look at the mindset behind earthquake survival tips, this is a good place to start.

High-Rise Buildings and Public Spaces

If you are in a high-rise, do not head for the elevators or the stairs while the shaking is happening. Elevators will likely lose power or trigger an emergency stop, trapping you inside. Stay on the floor you are on. In a crowded public space like a theater or stadium, do not rush the exits. Stay in your seat, protect your head with your arms, and wait for the shaking to stop before attempting an orderly evacuation. If you want the full sequence of actions, see our what to do during an earthquake guide.

Key Takeaway: Movement during an earthquake is extremely difficult and dangerous. Your best bet is to drop exactly where you are and find immediate overhead cover to protect against falling objects like light fixtures and shelving.

Where to Go If You Are Outdoors

If you are already outside when the earthquake hits, do not run inside. You are generally safer outdoors as long as you can get away from man-made structures. The primary danger outside is falling debris from building facades, breaking glass, and collapsing power lines. For another checklist, read what to do if caught in an earthquake.

Finding an Open Space

Look for a spot that is clear of buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once you find an open area, drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops. The "danger zone" around a building is often considered to be a distance equal to the height of the building itself. If a building is 50 feet tall, you want to be at least 50 feet away from it to avoid falling bricks or glass.

Hazards to Avoid

• Power Lines: Live wires can snap and whip around. Stay as far away as possible.
• Trees: Large branches or entire trees can uproot during intense seismic activity.
• Retaining Walls: These are prone to collapse, especially in residential areas with tiered yards.
• Bridges and Overpasses: Never seek shelter under a bridge. These structures can experience significant stress and may drop concrete or steel components.

In Urban Environments

In a dense city, finding a truly open space is difficult. If you cannot find a clear area, duck into the alcove of a modern building to protect yourself from falling glass, but be aware that the exterior "skin" of a building is often the first thing to fail. If you are near a building with a lot of glass, move away from the windows as quickly as possible.

Bottom line: The greatest risk outdoors isn't the ground opening up; it's things falling on your head. Prioritize distance from structures and power infrastructure.

What to Do If You Are Driving

If you are behind the wheel, an earthquake can feel like your car has a flat tire or is being hit by massive gusts of wind. Your vehicle's suspension will likely amplify the shaking, making it hard to maintain control.

Safely Pulling Over

As soon as you realize an earthquake is happening, signal and pull over to the side of the road. Avoid stopping under overpasses, bridges, or large signs. Do not stop near buildings or trees if you can help it. Once you have stopped, set the parking brake and stay inside the vehicle.

Staying Inside the Car

The car’s metal frame provides significant protection from falling debris. It also acts as an insulator if a power line falls across the roof. If a wire does fall on your car, stay inside and wait for emergency responders. Do not touch the metal parts of the car frame. If you must exit due to a fire, jump out of the car with both feet hitting the ground at the same time to avoid creating a path for the electricity.

Post-Quake Driving

When the shaking stops, proceed with extreme caution. Watch for cracks in the pavement, fallen rocks, or downed power lines. Bridges may have been weakened even if they look fine. Avoid overpasses and check for emergency alerts on the radio.

Unique Environments: Mountains and Coastlines

If you are in a specific geographical area, like the mountains or the coast, you face secondary hazards that require different actions.

Coastal Areas (Tsunami Risk)

If you are near the ocean and feel a strong earthquake that lasts for twenty seconds or more, you must move inland or to higher ground immediately. Do not wait for an official tsunami warning. The earthquake is your warning.

• Move at least 100 feet above sea level or two miles inland.
• If you can see the wave, you are too close.
• Stay on high ground for several hours, as tsunamis often come in multiple waves over a long period.

Mountainous Terrain (Landslide Risk)

In the mountains, the shaking can loosen rocks and soil. Listen for unusual noises like trees cracking or boulders knocking together. These can be signs of an impending landslide or rockfall.

• If you are hiking, stay away from the edges of cliffs.
• Look for areas with stable, low-profile vegetation.
• Avoid narrow canyons where debris can funnel and trap you.

Note: If you are in a tent while camping, the tent offers no structural protection. If there is a risk of falling trees, try to move to a clearing, but if the shaking is too violent, stay low and protect your head inside your sleeping bag.

Where to Go After the Shaking Stops

The immediate danger of the earthquake may be over, but the risk has not passed. Aftershocks can happen within minutes, hours, or days. These are often strong enough to topple structures already weakened by the initial quake. For the recovery phase, see how to recover from earthquake.

Indoor Safety Checks

Once the shaking stops, check yourself for injuries before helping others. If you are in a building, check for the smell of gas. If you smell it, open the windows and leave the building immediately. If you know how to shut off the main gas valve, do so only if you suspect a leak.

• Do not use matches or lighters. Use a flashlight if the power is out.
• Check for fires. Small fires are the most common post-earthquake hazard.
• Exit carefully. Watch for broken glass and fallen objects in hallways.

When to Evacuate

You do not always need to evacuate your home. If the structure is sound and there is no gas leak, "sheltering in place" is often safer than being on the street. However, if you see large cracks in the foundation, or if the chimney looks unstable, it is time to get out. When you leave, take your emergency "go-bag" with you. We often feature rugged backpacks and organization gear in our emergency preparedness collection that are perfect for keeping these essentials ready.

Bottom line: The minutes following an earthquake are critical for fire prevention and medical assessment. Stay alert for aftershocks and move with caution.

Essential Gear for Earthquake Preparedness

While knowing where to go is the first priority, having the right gear makes the aftermath much more manageable. At BattlBox, we curate gear that helps you handle these exact scenarios. Every monthly mission we send out is designed to make you more self-reliant.

Lighting and Communication

When the power goes out, a reliable light source is a safety requirement, and our flashlights collection is built for that exact moment.

• Headlamps: These are superior to flashlights because they keep your hands free to move debris or provide first aid. A Powertac Explorer HL-10 2550 Lumen White/Red/IR Headlamp Magnetic Charging is built for that job.
• NOAA Weather Radio: You need a way to receive emergency broadcasts that doesn't rely on cell towers, which often become overloaded during a crisis.

Survival Tools and EDC

Your Everyday Carry (EDC) kit should include items that can help you escape a building or signal for help, and our EDC collection is a smart starting point.

• Multitools: A good multitool with a wire cutter or a pry bar can be invaluable. The Flextail Tiny Tool - Ultimate 26-in-1 EDC Tool is a compact option for light repairs.
• Whistle: If you are trapped under debris, a whistle is much louder and more sustainable than shouting. The ResQMe - Whistles For Life is a compact way to stay audible.
• Work Gloves: You will likely be moving broken glass or splintered wood. Thick leather or synthetic work gloves are a must.

Water and First Aid

Earthquakes often break water mains, leading to contamination or a total loss of service, so our medical and safety collection is a smart place to build around.

• Water Filtration: A portable filter like a Sawyer Squeeze or a LifeStraw ensures you have clean drinking water from any source. The VFX All-In-One Filter gives you a ready-made option.
• IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit): Your kit should include trauma supplies like pressure bandages and tourniquets.

Key Takeaway: Proper gear transforms a desperate situation into a manageable one. Focus your kit on the "Big Three" of earthquake recovery: Light, Water, and Medical.

Step-by-Step: Preparing Your Home Base

To ensure you know exactly where to go, you should "quake-proof" your environment before the event happens.

Step 1: Identify your safe spots. / Walk through every room in your house and find the sturdiest table or desk. If a room has no furniture, identify an interior wall away from windows.

Step 2: Secure heavy furniture. / Use brackets or straps to anchor bookshelves, televisions, and cabinets to wall studs. This prevents them from falling on you while you are trying to reach cover.

Step 3: Move heavy items lower. / Store large or heavy objects on bottom shelves. Ensure that mirrors and heavy pictures are not hanging directly over beds or couches.

Step 4: Practice the drill. / Physically drop, cover, and hold on. Doing this builds muscle memory so you don't freeze when the real shaking begins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In the heat of the moment, panic leads to bad decisions. Avoid these common mistakes to increase your chances of walking away unscathed.

Running Outside

Many people try to run out of the building while it is still shaking. This is dangerous because you are likely to be tripped by the movement or hit by falling debris as you exit the door. Stay inside until the shaking stops, then exit calmly.

Using Elevators

As mentioned before, elevators are a trap during an earthquake. Even if the power stays on, the shaking can misalign the elevator tracks, causing the cab to get stuck between floors.

Checking for Gas Leaks with a Flame

This seems obvious, but in a panic, people often reach for a lighter if the power is out. If there is a gas leak, a single spark can level the entire structure. Use a battery-powered light source only.

Following the "Triangle of Life"

The "Triangle of Life" is a theory that suggests you should lay next to large objects rather than under them, based on the idea that collapsing ceilings create a void space. This has been largely debunked by structural engineers. Objects can shift or tip over, crushing you. Sticking to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" remains the gold standard for safety.

Myth: The ground will open up and swallow people during an earthquake. Fact: Earthquakes do not create giant, gaping chasms that swallow cities. While ground cracking and "liquefaction" (where the soil behaves like a liquid) can happen, the primary danger is falling objects and structural collapse.

Conclusion

Knowing where to go during an earthquake is about understanding your immediate surroundings and resisting the urge to run. Whether you are dropping under a sturdy desk, finding an open field, or pulling your car to the shoulder, your goal is to stay put and protect your head. Preparation isn't just about the gear in your bag; it's about the plan in your head. At BattlBox, we are dedicated to providing the tools and knowledge you need to face any challenge with confidence. Our subscription tiers, from Basic to Pro Plus, are designed to build your kit over time with expert-curated gear that actually works. We’ve shipped over 1.7 million boxes to people who take their readiness seriously. Take the time today to identify your safe spots and ensure your emergency kit is ready by choosing your BattlBox subscription.

FAQ

What is the safest room in a house during an earthquake?

There isn't one specific "safest room," but rooms with fewer windows and no heavy, unsecured furniture are generally better. Bathrooms can be safe because of the reinforced framing around the plumbing, but the presence of tile and mirrors can be a hazard. Focus more on finding cover under a sturdy table regardless of which room you are in.

Should I stand in a doorway if I can't find a table?

No, standing in a doorway is not recommended in modern buildings. Door frames are not structurally stronger than the rest of the wall and do not protect you from flying debris or the door itself swinging shut. It is much safer to drop to the floor and cover your head and neck next to an interior wall.

What should I do if an earthquake hits while I am in bed?

If you are in bed, stay there. Turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured by broken glass or falling objects if you stay put than if you try to crawl across the floor in the dark while the ground is shaking.

How long should I stay under cover after the shaking stops?

Stay under your shelter for at least 60 seconds after the initial shaking ends. Aftershocks often follow the main quake quickly and can cause weakened items to finally fall. Once you are certain the movement has stopped, move cautiously to check for hazards like gas leaks or fires.