Find Earthquake Prep Overwhelming? Here’s An Easy To Digest Guide

The next big earthquake could hit at any time, and when it finally does we could see widespread death and destruction across Southern California.

For instance, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake could destroy buildings (including skyscrapers), render roads impassable, cut power across the region, overwhelm hospitals and start both gas and electrical fires as connections are broken.

Damage caused by the Northridge earthquake documented by the USGS.

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U.S. Geological Survey Archives

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If you want an in depth exploration of what a major quake would feel like and how it’d play out across L.A., listen to our podcast, "The Big One: Your Survival Guide."

Listen • 31:11

Episode Detail

Listen • 31:11

The Earthquake

You’re at Union Station when the big one hits. The next two minutes are terrifying. By the time you make your way outside, the Los Angeles you know is gone. In Episode One, you experience what the first hours after a massive earthquake could be like.

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But I’m going to spoil the takeaway a bit: You should prep.

Earthquakes are inevitable, and you can put yourself, your family and friends in a much better position if you just do a few things.

Remember to drop, cover and hold on when there's an earthquake. Don't stand in a doorway!

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Earthquake Country Alliance

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Quick things you can do right now

• Download UC Berkeley's MyShake app, which can alert you to shaking before it happens. It’s endorsed by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. 
• Put shoes next to your bed, so that you don’t get broken glass in your feet if the quake hits at night.
• Make sure there’s nothing hanging above your bed that could fall on you.
• Always keep your car fueled to at least half full, because gas stations might not work.

Supplies to buy

While a go bag is good to have, you should put your energy into getting your home ready and filling it with supplies to help you survive for a few weeks.

“Your house is probably going to be the safest place to be,” said seismologist Lucy Jones.

I picked up a lot of these items over the course of months, as the initial setup costs can be a bit pricey. The amounts will also differ for each household.

• 1 gallon of water per person per day. Consider extra for pets.
• Non perishable food, and a way to cook the food.
• All of your important documents scanned and/or in a box that’s easy to locate and move. 
• Emergency radio 
• Extra cash, as electronic payment systems might not work.
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• First aid kit
• Extra medicine, if needed.
• Fire extinguishers
• Crowbar, shovel and a hammer.
• A gas shutoff tool, if needed.
• A tent, sleeping pads and blankets, in case you do need to sleep outside your home.

If you’d like to put together a go bag, store those necessary items in a backpack or a box and keep them in an easily accessible location.

Here’s a comprehensive checklist from the Earthquake Country Alliance.

If you have a disability, I put together a separate set of recommendations for you to consider over here.

Extra credit prep

If you want to go a step further than buying supplies, you can (and should) strap down appliances in your home. It’s not unusual for large items to rip away from the wall, bounce across rooms and spill everything when the earth shakes violently.

You can and should strap down items that could tip over and hurt people.

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Courtesy Earthquake Country Alliance

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Here’s a good guide on how to strap down different items.

If you live in a house and you need to retrofit it, look into California’s Brace + Bolt program, which can help subsidize the cost.

As we saw in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, buildings with a soft story are prone to collapse. L.A. has since required buildings with them to be retrofitted. You can check if yours has been, here.

A soft story building collapsed on a row of cars during the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

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Timothy A. Clary

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AFP

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Additional guides

FEMA has a comprehensive checklist you can follow, which includes information on what to do if a quake hits and you’re in a location besides your home.

If you’re a homeowner, Cal OES has this deep dive guide available for you.

If you need guides in other languages, they're over here.