Monica H. is a homeowner from Whitehouse Station, N.J.
On the morning of April 5, 2024, she was working at her desk when something seemed to strike her house.
At least, that was what it felt like at first. But then it kept going.
“It just kept going. The house just kept shaking,” Monica told reporters.
She watched books fall from shelves and picture frames hit the floor.
The shaking lasted 45 seconds.
Monica’s house sits less than a mile from the epicenter of a 4.8-magnitude earthquake — the strongest to strike the Garden State since 1783.
Nobody near the epicenter was badly hurt.
But Monica had spent those 45 seconds standing at her desk with no plan and no clear idea of the safest spot in her own house.
That is a problem that most Americans share, particularly in places where earthquakes are not supposed to happen.
However, for much of America, a significant earthquake is not a question of if, but when.
And when the ground starts moving, you do not have time to figure out what to do.
You need to know before it happens.
What is earthquake preparedness?
Earthquake preparedness means knowing exactly what to do — and having what you need — before, during, and after a quake hits.
It starts with understanding where to position yourself the moment shaking begins.
Most injuries during earthquakes do not come from the quake itself. They come from falling objects, shattered glass, and toppling furniture.
This is what you need to know and do.
Drop, cover, and hold on:
The moment you feel shaking, drop to your hands and knees.
Move under a sturdy desk or table if one is within reach.
Cover your head and neck with your arms.
Hold your position until the shaking stops.
Staying down and covered protects you from falling debris.
It keeps you from being thrown by the movement.
It is the most important thing you can do in those first seconds.
Know your safe spots and what to steer clear of:
A sturdy table or desk away from windows is the target.
Windows shatter the moment a quake begins and send glass flying.
Exterior walls take the most structural stress.
Anything tall — bookshelves, appliances, hanging fixtures — becomes a projectile risk the moment shaking starts.
Doorways, despite the old advice, do not provide special protection in modern structures.
Know the safest spot in every room you spend time in before you need it.
A dedicated earthquake kit:
When the shaking stops, the danger often continues.
Gas lines can rupture. Power can go out for days. Roads can clog.
This means, emergency responders may not reach your area for hours or longer.
A practical three-day kit includes:
– Water: one gallon per person, each day for at least 72 hours
– Shelf-stable food that requires no cooking
– A battery-powered or hand-crank radio for updates
– A bandana
– A flashlight with backup batteries
– A whistle: to signal for help if you become trapped
– A first aid kit
– Sturdy, closed-toe shoes beside the bed (shattered glass on the floor is a major threat in the moments after a quake)
– Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag
Aftershocks:
The main quake is rarely the final event.
Aftershocks can arrive minutes, hours, or days later — sometimes with enough force to bring down structures weakened by the original event.
The Garden State experienced multiple aftershocks after Monica’s quake, including a 3.8-magnitude event just hours later.
Treat every aftershock the same as the first event.
Drop, cover, and hold on until it passes.
Drawbacks to earthquake preparation:
Upfront expense and storage space:
A complete three-day kit for a family of four requires meaningful storage space and initial spending.
Start with a single-person 72-hour kit and expand it as you go.
A partial kit built over time is far better than no kit built waiting for the right moment.
Complacency outside high-risk zones:
Most Americans outside the West Coast do not consider earthquakes a real threat.
Preparedness is not just for California.
Priorities for your earthquake plan:
Priority 1: Know your safe spot in every room before you need it.
Bedroom. Office. Kitchen. Identify the spot you would drop to in each one.
This takes two minutes but could keep you alive.
Priority 2: Secure heavy objects before the next quake.
Remove anything hanging directly above where you sleep.
Strap tall bookshelves and appliances to the wall.
Move heavy items from upper shelves to lower ones.
Priority 3: Build your 72-hour kit.
Water. Food. Flashlight. First aid, etc.
These are not complicated items, but they are items most people do not have ready when they need them.
