The most reliable earthquake kit is layered: carry a portable Go-Kit for at least three days, keep a Stay-at-Home Kit that can support your household for at least two weeks, and place a small Bed-Kit beside every bed. Store water, no-cook food, light, communications, first aid, medicines, dust protection, shoes and utility tools where you can reach them after shaking. Then adapt the contents for children, pets, disabilities, medical equipment and dietary needs, and maintain the supplies on a schedule.
Build three earthquake-kit layers
An earthquake can trap you at home, force an evacuation or catch you at work or in a vehicle. A single large box in a closet is not enough. The American Red Cross recommends three complementary layers:
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| Layer | Purpose | Where to keep it | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go-Kit | Leave quickly or shelter elsewhere | Near an exit and in a portable backpack or tote | At least three days of water, food, medicine, light, communication and basic hygiene |
| Stay-at-Home Kit | Remain safely in your home when roads or utilities are disrupted | A cool, dry, accessible location away from likely falling objects | At least two weeks of household water and food, sanitation, tools, medical supplies and backup power |
| Bed-Kit | Protect yourself during the first seconds after shaking | Attached to or immediately beside each bed | Sturdy shoes, a flashlight, spare glasses, a dust mask and a whistle |
Prepare additional small kits for your workplace and vehicle. You may be away from home when the earthquake occurs, and a home-only plan leaves a dangerous gap.
Calculate and store water first
Water is the largest and least portable part of an earthquake plan. The U.S. Geological Survey recommends at least 1 gallon per person per day for at least two weeks. This allowance includes drinking and basic food preparation; hot climates, pregnancy, illness and strenuous work can increase needs.
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Make the calculation
- Count everyone who may rely on the supply, including children, older adults and visitors who could be stranded.
- Multiply the number of people by 14 gallons for a two-week baseline. Add extra capacity for pets and medical or hygiene needs.
- Divide the total among several containers so one leak or damaged container does not eliminate your supply.
- Keep a smaller, portable amount in the Go-Kit and vehicle rather than trying to move the entire household reserve.
Use sealed, food-contact-rated containers designed for water storage. Compare capacity, portability, leak resistance and whether purification is included before buying. Label each container with the fill or replacement date and keep it out of direct sunlight and chemical storage areas.
Plan for an alternate source
Keep water-purification tablets or unscented household chlorine bleach for an alternate source, following the product label and local emergency guidance exactly. Do not use scented, splashless or color-safe bleach unless its label specifically states that it is suitable for water disinfection. Purification does not remove fuel, pesticides, heavy metals or other chemical contamination, so use a known-safe source whenever possible.
Choose food that works without power
FEMA’s Earthquake Safety Checklist advises keeping nonperishable food for at least 72 hours and preferably two weeks. Choose items that need no refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. A power outage can make a stove, microwave or electric can opener unusable, while a damaged water line can make foods requiring extra water impractical.
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Build a usable food mix
- Ready-to-eat canned meals, vegetables, beans, fish or meat.
- Nut butters, shelf-stable milk, protein bars, crackers, dried fruit and other high-energy foods.
- Infant formula and baby foods required by children in the household.
- Gluten-free, low-sodium, diabetic-friendly or other special-diet foods used routinely, not unfamiliar emergency substitutes.
- A manual can opener, utensils, cups, a small cutting tool and resealable bags.
Use normal household meals as the baseline: familiar foods are easier to ration and less likely to trigger allergies or refusal under stress. Record expiration dates on a visible list so older items can be used first.
Provide light, information and charging
USGS specifically lists flashlights with spare batteries and a portable radio with extra batteries. Keep a flashlight in each Bed-Kit, one in the Go-Kit and additional lights with the home supplies. Headlamps leave both hands free for clearing a path or treating an injury.
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Evaluate an emergency radio
When comparing battery-powered emergency radios, check four practical features rather than appearance:
| Feature | Why it matters | What to verify before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Power options | Batteries may be depleted or unavailable during a prolonged outage | Replaceable batteries plus hand-crank, USB or solar charging; understand how long each method takes |
| Battery availability | An unusual battery size can make replacement difficult | Common battery type, included spares and a clearly marked battery compartment |
| Weather-band or alert capability | Officials may broadcast evacuation, shelter and hazard information | Local compatibility, audible alerts and a simple tuning process |
| Ease of use | Smoke, darkness or injury make complicated controls a liability | Large controls, readable labels and a test you can perform without the manual |
Store a tested backup battery or another way to charge phones and essential devices. Keep charging cables for the specific phones, hearing aids, radios or medical devices your household uses. A radio does not replace official alerts from local authorities; use every available channel.
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Include a first-aid kit and a first-aid handbook, personal medications, spare eyeglasses and any medical supplies or equipment identified in your household plan. Keep at least a one-month medication supply when your prescriber and pharmacy rules allow it. Store medicines in original labeled containers and protect temperature-sensitive products according to their instructions.
Make the medical kit household-specific
- List prescriptions, doses, prescriber phone numbers, allergies and insurance details on paper in case a phone is lost or uncharged.
- Add backup batteries, chargers, tubing, mobility aids, test strips or other consumables for essential medical equipment.
- Keep spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries and communication cards for people who may have difficulty hearing or speaking after an injury.
- Include menstrual products, incontinence supplies, wound dressings and over-the-counter medicines your household already uses.
- Ask a clinician or pharmacist how heat, freezing, dust or a missed dose could affect each medicine.
A commercial first-aid kit is only a starting container. Compare its actual contents, refillability, household capacity and room for personal medicines. Replace used or expired items immediately.
Add tools and protection for post-quake hazards
After shaking stops, broken glass, dust, blocked doors, leaking utilities and fallen objects can turn a minor injury into a serious one. The Red Cross and USGS lists include:
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- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes and work gloves to protect feet and hands from glass and debris.
- Dust masks to reduce inhalation of particulate matter while you shelter or move through damaged areas.
- A whistle to signal rescuers if you are trapped or cannot safely shout.
- Crescent and pipe wrenches for utility shutoffs, stored where household members can reach them.
- A multipurpose tool, protective goggles, heavy-duty plastic waste bags, duct tape and basic cordage.
- A fire extinguisher rated for the hazards in your home, with everyone shown how to use it.
Know the locations of your gas, water and electrical shutoffs before an earthquake. Do not shut off a utility unless you understand the procedure and local guidance; never turn gas back on yourself after a suspected leak. If you smell gas, hear hissing or see a broken line, leave the area and contact the utility or emergency services from a safe location.
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Assemble the Bed-Kit for the first minutes
Glass, bookshelves and ceiling fixtures can fall while you are still in bed. Put each Bed-Kit in a sturdy container or fabric pouch attached to the bed frame or placed where it cannot be buried by furniture. Include:
- Sturdy shoes that can be put on without stepping on the floor barefoot.
- A flashlight with fresh batteries.
- Spare eyeglasses or contact-lens supplies if needed.
- A dust mask.
- A whistle.
Do not store the Bed-Kit across the room. The point is to reach it without crossing broken glass or unstable furniture. Keep heavy objects, mirrors and unsecured televisions away from beds as part of the room’s earthquake preparation.
Prepare kits for work and the car
Workplace kit
Keep a compact Go-Kit at your desk, locker or another approved location. Include water, ready-to-eat food, a flashlight, radio or phone-charging method, first aid, medicines, shoes, a dust mask and copies of essential contacts. Follow workplace rules for storing batteries, food and medical items, and learn at least two routes out of the building.
Vehicle kit
A vehicle kit is useful when an earthquake closes roads or leaves you stranded away from home. Carry water, shelf-stable food, a first-aid kit, flashlight, spare batteries, phone charger, blanket or warm layer, sturdy footwear, dust mask, whistle, basic tools and sanitation supplies. Do not leave heat-sensitive medicines, pressurized containers or perishable food in a hot vehicle; rotate vehicle contents more often and inspect them after extreme temperatures.
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Adapt the kit to real household needs
Generic checklists miss the supplies that determine whether a person can actually shelter safely. Review the kit with every household member and add:
- Children: diapers, formula, comfort items, age-appropriate food, medicines and a card with caregiver contacts.
- Pets and service animals: food, water, bowls, leash or carrier, waste bags, medications, vaccination records and a recent photo.
- Disabilities and access needs: backup mobility equipment, transfer aids, communication boards, spare batteries and a plan for elevators being unavailable.
- Dietary restrictions: familiar shelf-stable foods that meet allergies, cultural requirements or medical diets.
- Older adults: medication schedules in large print, hearing-aid batteries, continence products and mobility support.
- Remote or rural homes: additional fuel, water, sanitation and communications if professional help or deliveries may take longer.
Keep paper copies of identification, insurance information, emergency contacts, medication lists and household meeting locations in a waterproof envelope. Digital copies can supplement, but not replace, paper records when networks and batteries fail.
Assemble and place the supplies step by step
- Map the hazards. Walk through each room and identify heavy furniture, glass, water heaters, refrigerators, televisions, shelves and pictures that could fall. Mark safe areas away from windows and practice Drop, Cover and Hold On.
- Choose storage points. Put the Go-Kit near an exit, the Stay-at-Home supplies in more than one accessible location and each Bed-Kit beside a bed. Avoid garages or sheds that may be inaccessible after structural damage unless you have an indoor backup.
- Gather water and food. Record container sizes, dates and dietary assignments. Keep the manual can opener with the food rather than in a kitchen drawer that may be blocked.
- Add light and communications. Install batteries in flashlights and radios, mark the battery orientation and test every charging cable with the device it is meant to power.
- Pack medical and personal items. Add prescriptions, glasses, first aid, hygiene supplies and equipment-specific backups. Keep a written inventory inside each kit.
- Add safety tools. Place shoes, masks, gloves, whistles, wrenches and the extinguisher where they are visible and reachable. Tell every adult and older child what each item does.
- Label and secure. Use waterproof labels, keep heavy containers low, and do not place supplies where they can fall onto a doorway or sleeping area.
- Practice the plan. Rehearse Drop, Cover and Hold On, utility shutoff decisions, evacuation routes, two meeting places and how to contact an out-of-area person.
What to do during and immediately after shaking
During shaking
Practice and use Drop, Cover and Hold On: drop to hands and knees, cover your head and neck under sturdy furniture if possible, and hold on until movement stops. If no cover is available, move away from windows and tall furniture while protecting your head. Do not run outside during the shaking, use elevators or stand in a doorway unless that doorway is specifically designed as a safe structural location.
After shaking
- Expect aftershocks and repeat Drop, Cover and Hold On when they occur.
- Check for injuries and use first aid within your training. Do not move someone with a possible spinal injury unless there is immediate danger.
- Use flashlights rather than candles until gas leaks and fire hazards have been ruled out.
- Check for broken water, gas or electrical lines only if it is safe; use the appropriate wrench and follow local instructions.
- Leave damaged buildings and do not re-enter until officials say it is safe.
- Listen to official radio or phone alerts, conserve batteries and avoid unnecessary calls so emergency networks remain available.
Follow local officials for evacuation, boil-water notices, shelter locations and road closures. A kit supports those instructions; it does not replace them.
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Set a recurring reminder at least every six months, and inspect the kit after any use, move or extreme weather. Rotate food and water before their marked dates, replace batteries and test radios, inspect containers for leaks, and verify that shoes still fit. Refill medicines and medical consumables according to pharmacy and clinical guidance. Update contact cards, identification copies, pet records and household meeting locations whenever circumstances change.
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At each review, ask three questions: Can every person reach their assigned kit in darkness? Can the household function without electricity, refrigeration, cooking or tap water? Can someone unfamiliar with the home identify the first-aid supplies, extinguisher and utility shutoffs? If the answer to any question is no, change the storage or labeling rather than merely adding more items.
Use the four-part preparedness framework
USGS summarizes earthquake readiness this way:
“There are four basic steps you can take to be more prepared for an earthquake: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items. Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency. Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations. Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.”
The kit is the third step, but it works best when paired with the other three. Secure televisions, shelves, mirrors, pictures, water heaters, refrigerators and bookcases so they do not fall. Decide where household members will meet and how they will communicate if cellular service is interrupted. Keep important documents accessible and review property and insurance decisions appropriate to your location.
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Common mistakes and practical fixes
| Mistake | Why it fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping everything in one heavy container | You may not be able to reach or carry it after structural damage | Use the three layers and split water, food and tools among accessible locations |
| Relying on food that needs cooking or added water | Power, fuel or clean water may be unavailable | Choose ready-to-eat foods and keep a manual can opener |
| Storing only a phone for information | Batteries and networks can fail | Add a radio, spare batteries and an independent charging method |
| Leaving shoes and light across the room | Broken glass can make the path impassable | Attach a Bed-Kit to or beside the bed |
| Forgetting personal medicines | Generic first aid cannot replace prescriptions or equipment | Maintain a labeled reserve and a written medical list |
| Never opening or testing the kit | Dead batteries, expired food or missing parts remain undiscovered | Schedule inspections and replace items after every use |
Preparedness is not a one-time shopping trip. A small, distributed and practiced kit is more useful than an impressive pile of supplies that nobody can reach, identify or operate.
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