How to stay protected during an earthquake – the complete guide

Lately, the news of a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria made global headlines. While the official death toll has already reached 5,000 at the time of writing this piece, the World Health Organization’s estimates tell it could be as high as 20,000.

Although this horrific natural calamity doesn’t give us much time for us to think about safety, there are a number of ways we can protect ourselves and our loved ones in case of an earthquake event. But before we move on to safety measures, let’s talk a little about what earthquakes are and why they happen.

What is an earthquake?

An earthquake occurs when a fault experiences a sudden shift in movement. Tectonic plates move gradually, however, their edges become stuck due to friction. An earthquake happens when the stress at the edge surpasses the friction and releases energy in the form of seismic waves that travel through the Earth’s crust, leading to the sensation of shaking.

Source: British Geological Survey

The origin of the earthquake, also known as the focus or hypocentre, is referred to as the point where it starts, and it can be located many kilometers below the Earth’s surface. The epicenter is the spot on the surface directly above the focus. 

Seismic waves, or intense vibrations, spread from the point of initial break (focus) like ripples on a pond. These cause the ground to shake and can travel vast distances in all directions. Close to the focus, the waves can be extremely powerful, leading to devastating damage.

What causes an earthquake?

As explained above, the Earth’s crust is composed of constantly moving tectonic plates. When the edges of these plates rub against each other in fault zones, the movement can be slowed by friction, building up pressure over time. 

When the force of movement finally surpasses the friction, sections of the crust can break or shift suddenly, releasing the accumulated pressure as seismic waves, resulting in a naturally occurring earthquake, sometimes referred to as a tectonic earthquake.

Source: Caltech Science Exchange

According to National Geographic, approximately 80% of earthquakes on Earth occur along the “ring of fire,” the Pacific Ocean’s rim, which is also known for its high concentration of volcanic activity. These earthquakes happen mostly at fault zones where tectonic plates, the giant rock slabs that make up the Earth’s upper layer, collide or move past each other.

Gradual and unnoticeable changes occur on the surface, but stress can accumulate between tectonic plates. When this stress is suddenly released, it generates powerful seismic waves that travel through rock and reach the surface. Some earthquakes can also occur away from fault zones due to the stretching or compression of plates.

Do earthquakes only ahppen on Earth?

According to NASA, earthquakes are not exclusive to our planet, as seismic activity has been detected on other celestial bodies. The Moon, Mars, Venus, and several moons of Jupiter have all experienced quakes. 

To study seismic activity on Mars, NASA’s InSight mission brought a seismometer to the planet to measure marsquakes. Scientists aim to understand the composition of Mars’ interior by analyzing the vibrations produced by these marsquakes, as different materials produce different seismic signatures on Earth.

How to stay safe during an earthquake?

While most earthquakes result in minor or negligible harm, there is a potential for larger earthquakes that can cause significant damage to structures and infrastructure. Thus, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with basic safety measures in the event of an earthquake.

How to prepare for an earthquake

• Educate yourself, your kids, and all loved ones about earthquakes.
• Determine safe locations for seeking shelter (such as under a strong piece of furniture) in your home, workplace, or school.
• Practice how to ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’
• Familiarize yourself with the earthquake plan at your school or workplace.
• Know how to shut off gas, water, and electricity. 
• Gain knowledge of first aid. 
• Always keep a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries at your home. 
• Avoid placing heavy items on shelves, as they can fall during an earthquake. 

What to do during an earthquake

Your earthquake safety steps will heavily depend on whether you’re indoors or outdoors. Here are tips for both scenarios.

When you’re indoors

When you’re inside your house or a building, CDC recommends the simple three-step safety protocol: Drop. Cover. Hold On.

Source: CDC

DROP to your hands and knees before the earthquake can knock you down, this position offers protection from falling while still allowing movement if necessary. 

COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) with a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, move close to an interior wall or low-lying furniture and protect your head and neck with your arms and hands. 

HOLD ON to your shelter (or head and neck) until the shaking stops, be ready to move with it if it moves.

Stay inside!

One important thing to remember is that if you’re inside during an earthquake, always stay inside. Don’t try to run to other rooms or outside as you’re less likely to get injured by staying where you are. 

Just try to move away from glass, hanging objects, or other fixtures that could fall. But do that within the few seconds before the tremors intensify. If something is available near you to shield your head and face against falling objects, grab it. 

When you’re in a high-rise building

When you’re in a high-rise building, follow the ‘Drop, Cover, Hold On’ rule there as well. While all the protocols stay the same as discussed above, a few things to do differently include:

• DO NOT use elevators as power breakdown may occur and sprinklers may trigger.
• If you’re inside an elevator during an earthquake, do not panic and push buttons for all floors.
• If the elevator gets stuck, try to get attention by banging on hard metal parts. 

When you’re outdoors

Earthquake safety protocols change when you’re outside. Here’s what you can do.

• Stay outside!
• Move away from buildings, electric wires, fuels/gas lines, and sinkholes. 
• Move away from glass windows and shelves with items that may fall.
• If you have time, go to an open area that’s free of trees, poles, or buildings.
• If you can, grab something to shield your head and face against falling debris.

If you’re in the car, bus, or train

If you’re in the car, bus, train, or any other moving vehicle when the earthquake happens, do the following:

• Look for an open area (maybe a curb or shoulder too) that has no utility poles, power wires, under- or over-passes, or buildings around.
• Stop the car and STAY IN THE CAR until the shaking stops.
• Listen to emergency broadcast information on radio.