How to prepare for an earthquake: Expert tips on how to stay safe

Your earthquake plan should be simple and direct. Overcomplicate things, and you or a family member is likely to forget the plans in the high-stress conditions following the disaster. Once you have plans in place, write them down and keep a copy at home, in your cars, and at work.

As Skyler Hallgren, co-founder of Redfora— a company that specializes in earthquake emergency supplies and kits — says: “Why make a plan? So you and those you care about can get in touch and meet back up after a major emergency. While documenting your plan is crucial, a big part of it is simply talking and planning together.”

Here’s what you need to cover in your plan:

1. Discuss what to do during the actual quake. Get under and hold onto a large piece of furniture; don’t stand in a doorway, that old advice has been ditched by the experts. If you’re in bed, stay there and hold on. If you’re in a car, stop driving and keep your seatbelt fastened. If you’re outside, get to an open area, away from powerlines, trees, and anything else that may well be coming down.

2. Know where emergency supplies are and designate who is responsible for what. We’ll cover the tools, provisions, and other supplies to have on hand soon, but keep in mind that the perfect earthquake emergency kit is useless if no one knows where it is or thinks to grab it.