An earthquake is a devastating natural disaster that can happen with almost zero notice; therefore, it’s critical that anyone near an active fault line knows how to prepare for an earthquake.

Because of the inconsistency of earthquakes and the inability to determine when one will happen next, it’s imperative that you have an emergency action plan in place to help you survive an earthquake in your area.

These natural disaster can happen at any time; that’s why we want to help you survive with these tips on…

How To Prepare For An Earthquake

First of all, many of us have been lucky enough to never have experienced an earthquake for ourselves; as such, we can become easily blinded to the devastation and turmoil that ensues. Here’s a sobering video to remind you how dangerous earthquakes really are:

We’re familiar with earthquakes mostly happening in California and in other countries; however, if you know anything about the Cascadia Subduction Zone, you know we’re about to get hit with one of the biggest earthquakes in our nation’s history.

They’ve even nicknamed this disaster “The Big One.” Watch this video to learn more:

Unfortunately, we can’t stop an earthquake from happening; and this is terrifying, especially since the major ones can destroy an entire city in about 5 minutes, and minor ones can still shake up your home and do serious damage to your property and the buildings and roads around you.

So what do we do?!

It seems as though our best bet at survival when it comes to earthquakes is to prepare as best as we can for the impending disasters. And one of the most important ways to prepare is to come up with an action plan.

Some crucial steps involved in this action plan are as follows:

1 – Secure Your Home

It’s important to secure the things in your home in case of a minor earthquake; doing so will help prevent small and large items from knocking over when the ground starts to shake.

One way to do this is by moving furniture away from the couches and other sitting places in your house. By doing this, you’ll help prevent your bookcases, cabinets, etc from falling on top of where people might be sitting.

Make sure to move the heaviest items to the bottom shelves in bookcases, cabinets etc. as well – this will help stabilize your furniture and help keep it from toppling over.

Also make sure to secure your TV firmly to the wall and/or to your TV stand; this is especially pertinent since there are child deaths reported every day from TVs falling on little ones – and that’s even without an earthquake occurring.

2 – Decide On The Logistics Now

It’s not just earthquakes you have to prepare for; it’s the aftermath as well. Oftentimes, dangers like fires, power outages, aftershocks and even tsunamis can occur after an earthquake. As such, it’s imperative to prepare with your family members by knowing how to react when these occur.

Make sure to talk about the location you’ll head to once you hear news of an earthquake; make sure to also plan where to meet if someone gets lost.

It’s also important that everyone knows where to find the survival tools necessary to help survive an earthquake (these should be in a common room and easy to get to). Make sure that each person in your party also knows how to use each survival tool.

Which leads me to this next step…

3 – Have Survival Tools At The Ready

If you don’t have survival tools in your home to help you prepare for an earthquake, it’s crucial you get these NOW.

Great options to help you survive in an earthquake are: flashlights, medications, hiking boots/sturdy footwear, hygiene kits, tools to turn off your water and gas, light sticks,  food with a long shelf-life (i.e: canned or freeze-dried survival food), whistles, non-latex gloves, protective eyewear, dust masks, first-aid kits, bottled water (or portable water filtration systems), road maps, and cash.

Note: Don’t know how to turn off your gas in an emergency? Read our blog to learn how.

It’s also important to organize and make copies of medical cards and medical consent forms, as well as copies of your drivers license and other forms of Identification. Keep these, as well as insurance cards and a list of your out-of-area emergency contacts, in a sealed plastic bag to help prevent against damage.

It can also be beneficial to have printed photos of expensive belongings in your home, as it will help when dealing with insurance companies later. Keep these in a separate sealed plastic bag.

It can also be a good idea to pack items that would help comfort your children during and after a disaster, such as crayons, games or their favorite stuffed animal.

Our online store has many of the survival tools listed above (as well as tons more) that can help protect you in the event of an earthquake. For example, our Family First Aid Kit has all the essentials you need to handle most injuries at home.

4 – Secure Your Home

If your home was built before the late 1980’s, it’s possible it isn’t fit to withstand an earthquake. Watch the video below for some basic tips on how to retrofit your home in order to make it more secure.

Although these are helpful tips, it is important to consult your general contractor to inspect your home and tell you what your home’s specific needs are to become earthquake-ready.

5 – Get The Insurance

If you’re in a location where you’re able to get earthquake and flood insurance, this can be a great way to help protect your hard-earned investments that could be damaged in the event of an earthquake.

Earthquakes are an ugly reality that many preppers are scared to face; however, if you take the necessary precautions now, you’ll be much more likely to be prepared for these disasters and survive when they occur.

Experts recommend that you prepare with at least 72 hours’ worth of survival food and survival tools when preparing for an earthquake. Although this doesn’t seem like much time, there’s a surprising amount of equipment you need in order to survive those three days.