Need help now? Find food, housing, health care, and other essential services through 211info. Call 211, text your ZIP code to 898211, or visit 211info.org (opens in a new tab).

Sammy's Place a COAAST Family Network Communities Of All Abilities Succeeding Together
Donate
Icon of a house shaking in an earthquake

Ready in 5 · Lesson 1 of 6 · About 5 minutes

Earthquake

An earthquake is a strong shaking of the ground. Source: NASA Space Place (opens in a new tab)

Go at your own pace. You can do this lesson alone or with a support person. Read each question, think about your answer, then press Show the answer.

Step 1: Identify the alert

How do you know there is an earthquake?

Think about your answer first. Then check it.

Show the answer

The ground starts shaking and rolling. You may hear a loud roar, and the floor may move up and down.

Step 2: Stay or go

Do you stay where you are, or run out the door?

Think about your answer first. Then check it.

Show the answer

Stay where you are. If you are inside, stay inside. If you are outside, stay outside.

Step 3: Call 911 or not

Do you call 911?

Think about your answer first. Then check it.

Show the answer

No. 911 can't stop an earthquake.

Step 4: Stay calm

You know what to do. Let's take a minute to calm down.

  1. Take a deep breath in.
  2. Slowly let it out.
  3. Try it one more time: breathe in, then slowly breathe out.

Step 5: Take action: Drop, cover, hold on

Practice these three steps. Say them out loud, then act them out.

  1. 1stA person getting down on their hands and knees

    DROP!

    Get down on your hands and knees. Sitting down? Bend forward.

  2. 2ndA person on their knees covering their head and neck, moving toward a table

    COVER!

    Cover your head and neck with your arm and hand.

  3. 3rdA person under a table holding on to the table leg

    HOLD ON!

    Get under a sturdy table or desk. Hold on until the shaking stops.

Use a cane, walker, or wheelchair?

You can still protect yourself. Pick the way that works for your body.

Three drawings of a person with a cane: drop, cover, and hold on under a table.
Cane: Drop, cover, and hold on. Or sit on a chair or bed and cover your head and neck with both hands. Keep your cane close so you can use it when the shaking stops.
Three drawings of a person with a walker: lock, cover, and hold on.
Walker: Lock the wheels if it has them. Carefully get as low as you can. Bend over, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
Three drawings of a person in a wheelchair: lock the wheels, cover, and hold on.
Wheelchair: LOCK your wheels. Bend over and COVER your head and neck with your arms, a book, or a pillow. HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

Drawings and steps from Ready.gov: Earthquakes (opens in a new tab).

Live on the coast? A big earthquake can cause a tsunami. When the shaking stops, go to the Tsunami lesson steps: go away from the water and uphill.

Your earthquake drill card

Print this card and keep it in your wallet, on a lanyard, or by the door. The pictures show the three steps.

Download the drill card for earthquake (picture file)

Earthquake drill card with pictures of the three steps: drop, cover, hold on.

Finished the lesson?

Mark it done to keep track on the training page. This is saved only on this device.

Learn more