Earthquake Preparedness: Kit and Home Checklist

Because no one can tell you when an earthquake will happen, everything useful you can do has to be done in advance. The good news is that preparedness is cheap, one-off, and highly effective.

Secure your home first

Anchoring comes before stockpiling. Falling objects cause the majority of earthquake injuries, and securing them protects you regardless of whether you are awake or thinking clearly.

Tall furniture — bookcases, filing cabinets, wardrobes, display units — should be strapped to wall studs with L-brackets or furniture straps. Not to plasterboard alone; find the stud.

Water heaters should be strapped with two metal straps, at the upper and lower third of the tank, anchored into studs. An unsecured water heater can topple, rupture its gas line and start a fire — and it also represents dozens of gallons of drinking water you will want intact.

Overhead objects. Move heavy mirrors, framed art and shelving away from above beds and seating. Use closed hooks for hanging items. Secure light fittings and ceiling fans.

Cabinet latches. Child-proof or positive-catch latches stop cupboards flying open and emptying their contents. Kitchen cabinets full of glass and crockery are a genuine hazard.

Store heavy things low. Heavy or breakable items belong on bottom shelves, not above head height.

Flexible gas connectors on appliances reduce the risk of rupture. Have gas appliances fitted with flexible connections by a qualified installer.

Know your shut-offs. Locate the gas meter shut-off, the main water valve and the electrical breaker panel. Keep a wrench near the gas meter if it requires one. Only shut off gas if you smell or hear a leak — restoring service requires the utility company.

The emergency kit

Build for two weeks if you are in a high-hazard region. Three days is the old standard, and it is inadequate for a major event that damages regional infrastructure.

Water. One gallon (≈4 litres) per person per day. Include pets. Rotate every six to twelve months, or buy commercially sealed water with a long shelf life. Water is the single hardest thing to improvise.

Food. Non-perishable, requiring no cooking or refrigeration: tinned goods, dried fruit, nuts, energy bars, peanut butter. Include a manual can opener — an overlooked omission. Account for infants, dietary restrictions and pets.

Light. LED torches with spare batteries, and headlamps, which leave your hands free. Avoid candles: open flame after an earthquake risks igniting a gas leak.

Radio. Battery-powered or hand-crank, ideally with weather-alert capability. When mobile networks fail, radio still works.

First aid. A proper kit plus a manual, and at least a week — preferably a month — of any prescription medication. Copies of prescriptions. Spare glasses.

Tools. Wrench or pliers for utilities, work gloves, dust masks (N95 or better — collapsed structures release large amounts of dust), duct tape, a multi-tool, heavy-duty bags.

Sanitation. Heavy-duty bin liners, toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, a bucket. Sewer service frequently fails.

Cash in small denominations. Card systems and ATMs depend on power and networks.

Documents. Copies of identification, insurance policies, medical records and bank details in a waterproof container, plus digital copies stored remotely.

Warmth. Emergency blankets, a change of clothes, sturdy shoes.

Whistle. Three short blasts is the standard distress signal, and a whistle carries much further than a voice, for much longer.

By the bed

Keep this separately from the main kit, because you may need it before you can reach anything else:

• Closed-toe shoes with sturdy soles
• A torch or headlamp
• A whistle
• Spare glasses if you wear them

A drawstring bag tied to a bed leg keeps all of it in place during shaking.

The communication plan

Local networks are typically overwhelmed immediately after a significant earthquake, while long-distance routing often still works.

Designate an out-of-area contact. Everyone in the household contacts that one person rather than trying to reach each other. It is frequently easier to call across the country than across town.

Agree meeting points — one just outside the home for a fire-type evacuation, and one outside the neighbourhood in case the area is inaccessible.

Write it down. Print the plan and put a copy in each person's wallet, bag and school folder. Nobody remembers phone numbers, and a discharged phone is a real possibility.

Default to text. SMS requires a fraction of the bandwidth of a voice call and frequently gets through when calls will not.

Know your workplace and school plans, including who is authorised to collect children and where students will be held.

Insurance and structure

Standard homeowner and renter policies in most countries do not cover earthquake damage. It is typically a separate policy or endorsement. Check yours before you need it.

For older properties, seismic retrofitting is worth investigating. Common measures include bolting the house frame to its foundation, bracing cripple walls in the crawl space, and reinforcing soft-storey structures such as buildings with tuck-under parking. Many jurisdictions offer grant programmes for this work.

Practise

Run a drill. Have everyone practise Drop, Cover and Hold On until it is automatic. Under real shaking people do what they have rehearsed, not what they have read.

The Great ShakeOut runs annual drills in many countries and is free to join. Review your kit twice a year — a convenient anchor is when clocks change — checking expiry dates on water, food, batteries and medication.