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Earthquake Preparedness Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After

Earthquakes can happen without warning. This printable earthquake preparedness checklist helps your household prepare supplies, secure your home, make a family plan, and respond safely before, during, and after shaking.

Why Earthquake Preparedness Matters

Unlike hurricanes or winter storms, earthquakes usually do not give days of warning. Shaking can damage buildings, break glass, knock over furniture, disrupt water and power, block roads, and overwhelm emergency services.

The best time to prepare is before the ground moves. A simple earthquake plan can help your household stay safer, reduce panic, and recover faster.

Beginner goal: Prepare for at least 72 hours without normal utilities, stores, or outside help.

1. Build an Earthquake Emergency Kit

Your earthquake kit should cover the basics: water, food, first aid, lighting, communication, documents, and sanitation.

  • Water for each household member
  • Emergency food
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight and headlamp
  • Emergency lantern
  • Battery bank
  • NOAA emergency radio
  • Emergency blanket
  • Heavy-duty trash bags
  • Important document copies

Emergency Backpack

A dedicated backpack keeps critical earthquake supplies together and easy to grab.

View Emergency Backpack

First Aid Kit

Useful for treating cuts, scrapes, burns, and minor injuries after shaking stops.

View First Aid Kit

2. Store Emergency Water

Earthquakes can damage water lines and make tap water unsafe. Store water before you need it and keep backup containers available.

Stackable Water Container

Helpful for storing larger amounts of emergency water at home.

View Water Container

Portable Water Filter

A backup option if stored water becomes limited or questionable.

View Water Filter

3. Store Emergency Food

Keep foods that require little preparation and can be eaten during power or water disruptions.

  • Emergency food kit
  • Canned foods
  • Protein bars
  • Peanut butter
  • Crackers
  • Manual can opener

Emergency Food Kit

A long-shelf-life option for earthquake and disaster preparedness.

View Emergency Food Kit

Manual Can Opener

A necessary item if your emergency food includes canned goods.

View Manual Can Opener

4. Prepare for Power Outages

Earthquakes can knock out electricity. Keep lighting and backup power ready in easy-to-find places.

Flashlight

Keep flashlights in bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, and emergency kits.

View Flashlight

Headlamp

Useful for hands-free lighting during cleanup, repairs, or evacuation.

View Headlamp

Emergency Lantern

Provides room lighting if power is out after an earthquake.

View Lantern

Battery Bank

Helps keep your phone available for alerts, calls, maps, and updates.

View Battery Bank

5. Secure Your Home Before an Earthquake

Many earthquake injuries happen because items fall, break, or shift during shaking. Walk through your home and look for hazards.

  • Secure tall furniture to wall studs.
  • Move heavy items to lower shelves.
  • Secure televisions and large electronics.
  • Move beds away from windows if possible.
  • Keep shoes and a flashlight near beds.
  • Check water heater strapping if appropriate.
  • Know where utility shutoffs are located.

6. Make a Family Earthquake Plan

Your household should know what to do if an earthquake happens when people are separated at home, work, school, or on the road.

  • Choose indoor safe spots.
  • Choose outdoor meeting places.
  • Pick an out-of-town emergency contact.
  • Write down emergency phone numbers.
  • Plan for children, seniors, pets, and medical needs.
  • Practice drop, cover, and hold on.
  • Review evacuation routes.

Waterproof Document Pouch

Protect emergency contacts, ID copies, insurance records, and family plan documents.

View Document Pouch

7. What to Do During an Earthquake

During shaking, protect yourself first. Do not run outside while objects may be falling.

  • Drop to your hands and knees.
  • Cover your head and neck.
  • Hold on until shaking stops.
  • Stay away from windows and glass.
  • Do not use elevators.
  • If outside, move away from buildings, trees, and power lines.
  • If driving, pull over safely and stop.

8. What to Do After an Earthquake

After the shaking stops, check for injuries and hazards before moving around.

  • Check yourself and others for injuries.
  • Expect aftershocks.
  • Check for fire, gas smells, broken glass, and structural damage.
  • Use texts instead of phone calls when possible.
  • Listen for emergency updates.
  • Avoid damaged buildings.
  • Wear sturdy shoes and gloves during cleanup.
  • Document damage for insurance if safe.

Work Gloves

Protects hands during cleanup, broken glass removal, and debris handling.

View Work Gloves

Heavy-Duty Trash Bags

Useful for cleanup, sanitation, separating damaged items, and emergency storage.

View Trash Bags

9. Stay Informed After Shaking

Internet and phone service may be unreliable after a major earthquake. A backup alert source can help you receive updates.

NOAA Emergency Radio

Useful for emergency updates when internet or cell service is limited.

View Emergency Radio

Earthquake Preparedness Checklist

  • Build a 72-hour emergency kit
  • Store emergency water
  • Store emergency food
  • Keep first aid supplies ready
  • Prepare flashlights and lanterns
  • Keep backup phone power
  • Secure tall furniture
  • Move heavy items lower
  • Choose family meeting places
  • Write emergency contacts
  • Protect important documents
  • Practice drop, cover, and hold on
  • Prepare for aftershocks
  • Keep cleanup supplies ready

Printable Earthquake Preparedness Checklist

Print this checklist and use it to prepare your household before, during, and after an earthquake.

  • ☐ Store emergency water
  • ☐ Keep a portable water filter
  • ☐ Store emergency food
  • ☐ Keep a manual can opener
  • ☐ Prepare a first aid kit
  • ☐ Store prescription medications
  • ☐ Keep flashlights available
  • ☐ Keep a headlamp available
  • ☐ Keep an emergency lantern available
  • ☐ Charge battery banks
  • ☐ Keep phone charging cables ready
  • ☐ Keep NOAA emergency radio available
  • ☐ Secure tall furniture
  • ☐ Move heavy items to lower shelves
  • ☐ Secure televisions and large electronics
  • ☐ Keep shoes and flashlight near bed
  • ☐ Choose indoor safe spots
  • ☐ Choose outdoor meeting places
  • ☐ Choose out-of-town contact
  • ☐ Print emergency contact list
  • ☐ Protect important document copies
  • ☐ Prepare pet supplies if needed
  • ☐ Practice drop, cover, and hold on
  • ☐ Know not to use elevators
  • ☐ Check for hazards after shaking
  • ☐ Expect aftershocks
  • ☐ Keep work gloves ready
  • ☐ Keep heavy-duty trash bags ready
  • ☐ Document damage if safe
  • ☐ Review earthquake plan every 6 months

Related Preparedness Guides

Final Takeaway

Earthquake preparedness starts before shaking begins. Store water and food, build a 72-hour kit, secure your home, protect documents, make a family plan, and practice what to do during an earthquake.

You cannot prevent an earthquake, but you can reduce risk and give your household a better chance to respond safely.