Home After a Quake What to do After an Earthquake

What to do After an Earthquake

Immediate steps to take after an earthquake to stay safe and help others.

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Protect yourself and others

  • Check yourself for injuries before helping others
  • Help injured or trapped people if it is safe to do so
  • Do not move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger

Emergency help

If you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance:
Call 911 if available

Reduce Immediate Dangers

Prevent fires and hazards

  • Look for and extinguish small fires
  • Eliminate fire hazards
  • Clean up spilled flammable liquids such as gasoline or chemicals

Protect yourself from injury

  • Wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing
  • Watch for broken glass and debris
  • Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire risk

Check Your Home

Inspect your surroundings

  • Inspect your home for damage
  • Leave immediately if the building is unsafe
  • Stay out of damaged buildings until authorities say it is safe
  • Open cabinets and closets carefully, as contents may have shifted

Shelter & Utilities

  • If your home is unsafe, evacuate and follow local emergency instructions
  • Seek temporary shelter with Local Assistance Centers, county emergency services, or Red Cross – Find an Open Shelter
  • Report downed power lines to your utility provider
  • Turn off utilities if you suspect damage
  • Avoid drinking tap water until officials confirm it is safe
  • Use flashlights instead of candles until gas leaks are ruled out
  • Power Outage and Fire Recovery www.flexalert.org

Stay Informed

Get reliable updates

  • Listen to a battery-powered radio or local news for emergency information
  • Follow instructions from local officials
  • Use phones only for emergency calls to keep lines open

Live earthquake data and information

Real-time earthquake map

California emergency updates

Disaster Assistance

Community Support

  • American Red Cross Disaster Services
  • Local Assistance Centers (LACs) may open after major disasters to help residents access services in one location. These centers can assist with: 
    • Disaster assistance applications
    • Housing and social services
    • Insurance questions
    • Replacement of vital records

Volunteer & Donation Information

If you want to help:

  • Donate through trusted organizations.
  • Volunteer with approved disaster response groups 
  • Avoid self-deploying to disaster areas

Expect Aftershocks

Be prepared for continued shaking

What's Next?

Once immediate safety concerns have been addressed:

Go to Response & Recovery