Earthquake 101: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do!

Whether you live in California or are planning a vacation here, everyone should know what to do in case of an earthquake.

The first thing is to forget everything Hollywood has shown you in movies and on TV!

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links.

Advertisements

What not to do during an earthquake:

Do NOT stand in doorways

To this day people think that the safest place to be during an earthquake is in a doorway. This advice is only correct if you are inside of an old, unreinforced adobe house or some older wood-frame houses.

In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and the doorway does not protect you from the most likely source of injury- falling or flying objects.

You also may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. You are safer under a table.

DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during shaking

Exterior walls are the most dangerous areas to be during an earthquake.

Stay indoors and avoid injuries by dropping to the floor before the earthquake forces you to the ground.

Click here to learn more about my pain management plan.

What you should do before and during an earthquake:

Have two weeks of medication on hand

Post-earthquake your area may experience power outages and disruption of services. To make sure that I have access to pain relief after a major earthquake, I keep a full supply of my favorite herbal tinctures, cannabis, and other pain-relieving balms and oils like Good Night Lotion and Magic Muscle Ease. In the case of not having the power to charge my PEMF device and dry herb vaporizer, I keep several charged battery packs on hand.

Keep a fully stocked earthquake emergency kit on hand

Purchase a pre-made emergency kit or create your own. (Click here to find out what you should include in your emergency kit.) Store your supplies in an outdoor storage area, not your garage where it could become buried under debris and other items that may fall during the earthquake.

Drop and cover

Drop to your knees and cover your head and neck. If in bed, stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow.

Bolt and strap down furniture

Secure televisions, appliances, and large furniture to prevent them from falling over by securing them with anti-tip straps.

Have an earthquake plan

Create a family plan. Plan how to communicate with each other should you not be together when an earthquake hits.

Discuss how to stay safe while waiting to be reunited.

Have a plan in place to communicate with out-of-state relatives.

Put your plan into practice!

More Resources

Published by Cynthia Covert

Diagnosed in 2001 with psoriasis, followed by fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, endometriosis, and later a botched hysterectomy turned her world upside down. Cynthia shares her experience, advice, and tips for how to make life with chronic pain easier and less painful.

Comment Here!

Skip to content
This Website is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilitiesWe are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Conformance status