Key Takeaways
- Expect aftershocks. They begin within minutes and can continue for months. Some will be strong enough to cause additional damage. Drop, Cover, and Hold On during every aftershock.
- Text, don't call. Text messages require far less network bandwidth than voice calls and are far more likely to get through on overloaded cell networks after a disaster.
- Check for gas leaks immediately. If you smell gas or hear hissing, do not flip light switches, strike matches, or use any electrical equipment. Open a window, leave the building, and call your gas company from outside.
- Do not re-enter a damaged building until it has been inspected by qualified personnel. Many post-earthquake injuries and deaths result from people returning to unstable structures.
- Emotional stress reactions are normal. Anxiety, sleep disruption, difficulty concentrating, and irritability are expected responses to a traumatic event. They typically improve within weeks but may require professional support.
- Document everything for insurance before cleaning up. Photograph all damage from multiple angles before moving or discarding anything.
The First 60 Seconds: Immediate Actions After Shaking Stops
The moment the shaking stops, resist the impulse to leap up and run. Take one breath. The next 60 seconds require a calm, methodical response.
Step 1: Check Yourself for Injuries
Adrenaline masks pain. People have walked on broken ankles and handled broken glass without realizing they were injured. Before helping others, run your hands over your body and check for bleeding, pain, or limited mobility. If you're bleeding, apply pressure. If you suspect a spinal injury to yourself, minimize movement and call for help.
Step 2: Check Others Around You
If you are with family, coworkers, or other people, check on them next. Provide basic first aid for bleeding — apply pressure with clean cloth. If someone is trapped under debris, do not attempt to move heavy structural elements (walls, beams, concrete) unless you have training and equipment. Mark their location, keep talking to them, and call for professional rescue.
Critical rule: Do not move someone with a potential spinal injury unless they face immediate danger from fire, gas, or imminent structural collapse. Moving them incorrectly can cause permanent paralysis.
Step 3: Check for Hazards
Before moving through your home or building, look around from where you are.
Gas leaks. Natural gas has an added odorant that smells like rotten eggs. If you smell it or hear a hissing sound near gas appliances or pipes, this is urgent. Do not flip any light switches, use matches or lighters, or start any electrical equipment — a spark can ignite accumulated gas. Open a window, leave the building immediately, and call your gas company and 911 from outside. If you know how to turn off the gas at the meter and it's safe to do so, use the gas shut-off wrench that should be stored beside your meter. However, do not turn gas back on yourself — only the gas company should restore service.
Water leaks. If you see water flowing or hear water running inside walls or ceilings, turn off the main water supply if you can access it safely. Water damage compounds quickly and can undermine structural integrity.
Electrical hazards. If you see sparking wires, exposed electrical components, or smell burning, do not touch anything. If you can safely reach your main electrical panel, turn off the main breaker. If the panel is damaged, in standing water, or requires you to step over debris to reach it, leave it alone and evacuate.
Structural damage. This gets its own section below. For now, a quick visual scan: look for large cracks (especially diagonal cracks from corners of door frames and windows), leaning walls, sagging ceilings, buckled floors, or any visible shift in the building's structure. If you see obvious structural damage, evacuate immediately using the safest route available.
Step 4: Put on Shoes
This is not trivial. Broken glass, fallen debris, nails, and shattered ceramics cover floors after an earthquake. Foot injuries are one of the most common post-earthquake injuries and can cripple your ability to respond to everything that follows. Before taking a single step, put on sturdy shoes — ideally the pair you should have stored under your bed or beside your nightstand as part of your preparedness plan.
Aftershock Safety
What to Expect
Aftershocks are not random — they follow predictable patterns, even though individual aftershocks cannot be predicted in advance.
After any earthquake large enough to cause damage, aftershocks are virtually certain. They can begin within seconds of the main event and continue for days, weeks, months, or (for very large earthquakes) years. The largest aftershock is typically one magnitude unit smaller than the mainshock — meaning a magnitude 7.0 earthquake can produce aftershocks up to magnitude 6.0 or larger, which is itself a damaging earthquake.
The USGS provides aftershock forecasts after significant earthquakes, estimating the probability of aftershocks in specific magnitude ranges over the coming days and weeks. These forecasts are available at the USGS earthquake hazards website and through the USGS Earthquake Notification Service.
How to Respond to Aftershocks
Every aftershock requires the same response as the initial earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. This means every time you feel shaking, take protective action immediately. Do not assume that because the first event is over, subsequent shaking will be minor.
This is especially critical in damaged buildings. Structures weakened by the initial earthquake may fail during aftershocks that would not have caused damage on their own. If your building sustained visible damage, move to a safer location — an open area, a newer building, or a designated shelter — and do not return until it has been inspected.
The Psychological Toll of Aftershocks
Aftershocks are often described by survivors as more psychologically distressing than the initial earthquake. The initial event is sudden and passes; aftershocks create sustained anxiety because you are waiting for the next one, and you don't know when it will come or how strong it will be. This is a normal stress response. The section on emotional recovery later in this article addresses coping strategies.
Understanding earthquake aftershocks: what to expect
Structural Safety Assessment: Evaluating Your Building
The ATC-20 Tagging System
After a significant earthquake, local building departments deploy trained inspectors to conduct rapid visual assessments of affected structures. They use a standardized system (based on ATC-20 guidelines, developed by the Applied Technology Council for FEMA) to categorize buildings:
| Tag Color | Meaning | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| Green (INSPECTED) | No apparent structural hazard found. Building may have cosmetic damage but appears safe for occupancy. | You may re-enter and occupy. Continue to monitor for aftershock damage. |
| Yellow (RESTRICTED USE) | Building is damaged. Entry allowed for limited purposes only (retrieving essential items, for example). Specific restrictions noted on the placard. | Enter only for the specific purpose and duration noted. Do not stay overnight. |
| Red (UNSAFE) | Serious structural damage. Imminent hazard of collapse or other danger. | Do not enter under any circumstances. The building may be subject to demolition. |
Important: These assessments are rapid visual inspections, not detailed engineering evaluations. A green tag means "no obvious hazard found at the time of inspection" — it is not a guarantee of safety. If you notice new damage after a green-tag inspection (particularly after aftershocks), report it to your local building department.
What to Look For Yourself
Before inspectors arrive — which may take hours or days after a major earthquake — you need to make initial judgments about whether it's safe to remain in or re-enter your building. Here is what to check:
Exterior (before entering):
| What to Check | Warning Signs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Visible cracks wider than 1/4 inch, building shifted off foundation, crumbling concrete | Do not enter. Call building department. |
| Walls | Leaning or bulging, large diagonal cracks, separation at corners | Do not enter. |
| Chimney | Leaning, cracked, bricks fallen | Stay away from chimney side of building. Have chimney inspected before using fireplace. |
| Roof | Sagging, missing sections, visible daylight through roof structure | Do not enter area below damage. |
| Utilities | Broken gas line, downed power lines, water main break | Stay back. Call utility company and 911. |
| Surrounding area | Downed trees, fallen debris, road damage, landslide evidence | Use caution approaching. |
Interior (if exterior appears safe):
| What to Check | Warning Signs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Doors and windows | Won't open or close (frame has shifted) | Building has deformed — evacuate and get professional assessment. |
| Walls and ceilings | Large cracks (especially diagonal from corners of openings), bulging drywall, water staining from above | Evacuate the affected area. |
| Floors | Buckled, sloping, or noticeably uneven where they weren't before | Structure may be compromised — evacuate. |
| Smell | Natural gas (rotten egg odor), smoke, chemical odors | Evacuate immediately. Call 911. |
| Sound | Hissing, running water, cracking or groaning | Identify source. Gas hissing: evacuate. Water: shut off main. Structural sounds: evacuate. |
When in doubt, get out. It is always better to evacuate and wait for a professional assessment than to remain in a structure that may fail during an aftershock.
Utilities: How to Shut Off Gas, Water, and Electricity
Knowing how to shut off your utilities is a basic preparedness skill that should be practiced before an earthquake occurs. After an earthquake, damaged utilities are a leading cause of fires, flooding, and electrocution.
Gas
When to shut off: If you smell gas, hear hissing, see a broken gas line, or if your building has sustained significant structural damage.
How: Locate your gas meter (typically on the exterior of the building). The shut-off valve is on the pipe leading into the meter. Use a 12-inch adjustable wrench or a dedicated gas shut-off wrench (available at hardware stores for $10–$15) to turn the valve one-quarter turn so that it is perpendicular to the pipe. Store the wrench beside the meter.
Critical: Once you turn off the gas, do not turn it back on. Only the gas company should restore gas service, because they need to check the integrity of the entire system, relight pilot lights, and verify there are no leaks. Restoration may take days after a major earthquake.
Water
When to shut off: If you see water leaking from pipes or fixtures, water staining on walls or ceilings, or hear running water inside walls.
How: Locate the main water shut-off valve. In most homes, this is near where the water line enters the building — often in the basement, garage, or near an exterior wall. Turn the valve clockwise to close. For a ball valve (lever handle), turn the handle perpendicular to the pipe.
After shutting off: If you have an intact water heater, the water inside it (typically 40–80 gallons) is a valuable emergency water supply. Let sediment settle and drain from the bottom valve into clean containers.
Electricity
When to shut off: If you see sparking, smell burning, see damaged wiring or electrical panels, or if your building has sustained water damage near electrical systems.
How: Locate your main electrical panel (circuit breaker box). Flip the main breaker to the OFF position. If the panel is in a wet area, damaged, or unsafe to reach, do not attempt to shut it off — evacuate and call your utility company.
Important: Do not use candles for light in a building that may have a gas leak. Use flashlights only. Battery-powered or hand-crank lanterns are the safest option.
Communication: Reaching Family and Getting Information
Text, Don't Call
After a significant earthquake, cell networks become immediately overloaded. Voice calls require sustained bandwidth, and the system cannot handle the surge. Text messages (SMS) use tiny packets of data and are far more likely to get through. This is not speculation — it's confirmed by every major carrier and emergency agency.
FEMA and the FCC recommend that after a disaster, you use text messages, email, or social media to communicate rather than voice calls. Keep messages brief and informational: "I'm safe at [location]. Are you OK?"
Your Out-of-Area Contact
If you've followed your family emergency plan, every member of your household has an out-of-area contact's phone number written on paper. This person — a friend or family member who lives in a different region, unaffected by the earthquake — serves as a central communication hub. Each family member texts or calls the out-of-area contact with their status and location. The contact relays information to everyone.
Why does this work? Long-distance communication infrastructure is often intact when local systems are overwhelmed. A person in New York can receive texts from all members of a family in Los Angeles more reliably than those family members can reach each other across the same city.
Red Cross Safe and Well
The American Red Cross operates the "Safe and Well" registry, where you can register your status after a disaster. Friends and family can search for you by phone number or address.
Red Cross Safe and Well registry
Getting Official Information
After a major earthquake, you need reliable information about the scope of the event, aftershock advisories, evacuation orders, shelter locations, and utility status. Sources include:
- NOAA Weather Radio — battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio (should be in your kit)
- Local emergency management agency — check their website and social media
- USGS — earthquake details, aftershock forecasts, and shake maps at earthquake.usgs.gov
- Local news — TV and radio stations often serve as primary emergency communication channels
- Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) — automatic notifications sent to cell phones in affected areas
Evacuate or Shelter in Place?
This is one of the most important decisions you'll make after an earthquake, and the answer depends on your specific situation.
When to Evacuate Immediately
- You smell gas and cannot shut it off
- Your building has obvious structural damage (leaning walls, large cracks, shifted foundation)
- You are in a tsunami hazard zone (near the coast) — move to high ground immediately after shaking stops, without waiting for an official warning
- There is a fire in or near your building
- Authorities have issued an evacuation order
- You are in a damaged multi-story building and aftershocks are ongoing
When to Shelter in Place
- Your building appears structurally sound (no major cracks, no leaning, doors and windows still work)
- Authorities have not issued an evacuation order
- Conditions outside are more dangerous than inside (downed power lines, debris fields, darkness)
- You have adequate supplies (water, food, first aid)
- You have mobility or medical needs that make evacuation risky
If You Evacuate
- Take your emergency kit, medications, phone, charger, wallet, and keys.
- Wear sturdy shoes and long pants (debris protection).
- Check your evacuation route for damage before committing to it.
- Leave a note on your door with the date, time, and where you're going — so searchers or family know you left voluntarily.
- Go to your pre-designated family meeting point or the nearest emergency shelter.
- If driving, watch for road damage, downed power lines, and damaged bridges.
Emergency Shelters
After a major earthquake, the Red Cross and local emergency agencies open shelters. These are typically in schools, community centers, and public buildings that have been assessed for structural safety. Shelters provide basic necessities — water, food, first aid, and a safe place to sleep.
If you have pets, note that most general shelters do not accept animals (service animals are the exception). Identify pet-friendly sheltering options in advance as part of your preparedness plan.
To find open shelters after a disaster, text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) or check the Red Cross shelter finder.
Returning Home: The Inspection Checklist
If you evacuated, do not return until local authorities confirm it is safe or your building has been inspected. When you do return, work through this checklist systematically.
Before Entering
| Check | Action |
|---|---|
| Look at the building from outside | Check for leaning, cracks, foundation shift, chimney damage |
| Check the perimeter | Downed power lines, broken gas lines, sinkholes, landslide evidence |
| Smell for gas | If you smell gas before entering, do not enter. Call the gas company. |
| Check the tag | If building has been inspected, follow the tag guidance (green/yellow/red) |
Upon Entering
| Check | Action |
|---|---|
| Use a flashlight, not candles | Potential gas leaks make open flames dangerous |
| Walk carefully | Broken glass, debris, spilled chemicals on floors |
| Open windows | Ventilate in case of gas accumulation |
| Check ceilings | Sagging, water stains, hanging fixtures — stay out of rooms with compromised ceilings |
| Test utilities one at a time | Turn on water — check for leaks. Turn on electricity at the main breaker — listen and smell for problems. Gas: wait for the gas company. |
| Check food safety | If power was out for more than 4 hours, refrigerated food is likely unsafe. Frozen food that has thawed should be discarded. When in doubt, throw it out. |
| Test water | If water mains were damaged, your tap water may be contaminated. Use bottled or stored water until officials confirm water safety. You can also boil water (rolling boil for 1 minute) or use water purification tablets. |
Documenting Damage for Insurance
Before you clean up, move debris, or make repairs, document everything:
- Photograph all damage from multiple angles — wide shots and close-ups.
- Video walkthrough of each room, narrating what you see.
- Make a written inventory of damaged or destroyed items with estimated values and dates of purchase if known.
- Keep receipts for any emergency repairs, temporary housing, or replacement essentials.
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Most earthquake insurance policies require prompt notification.
- Do not discard damaged items until your insurance adjuster has had a chance to inspect them — or at minimum, until you have thorough photo documentation.
If you don't have earthquake insurance, contact FEMA to see if a federal disaster declaration has been made for your area. If it has, you may be eligible for Individual Assistance through FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP), which can provide grants for temporary housing, home repair, and other needs.
FEMA disaster assistance application
Emotional Recovery: Stress Reactions After an Earthquake
Normal Reactions to an Abnormal Event
Earthquakes are traumatic. The experience of the ground — the most fundamental constant in your life — suddenly becoming unpredictable and violent is deeply destabilizing. Emotional and psychological reactions after an earthquake are not signs of weakness. They are normal, expected responses.
Common reactions include:
- Anxiety and hypervigilance. Startling easily, feeling "on edge," interpreting normal sounds (trucks, washing machines) as earthquakes.
- Sleep disruption. Difficulty falling asleep, nightmares about earthquakes, waking at every small sound.
- Difficulty concentrating. Trouble focusing at work, forgetting things, feeling mentally foggy.
- Irritability and mood changes. Shorter temper, feelings of anger or frustration that seem disproportionate to the situation.
- Physical symptoms. Headaches, stomach problems, fatigue, muscle tension.
- Re-experiencing. Flashbacks to the shaking, intrusive thoughts about "what could have happened."
- Avoidance. Reluctance to enter buildings, sleep on upper floors, or be in places that remind you of the earthquake.
These reactions typically peak in the first week or two and gradually diminish. For most people, they resolve within 4–6 weeks without professional intervention.
When to Seek Professional Help
If any of the following apply, consider connecting with a mental health professional who has experience with disaster-related stress:
- Symptoms persist beyond 6 weeks without improvement
- Symptoms interfere significantly with daily functioning (work, relationships, self-care)
- You are using alcohol, drugs, or other substances to cope
- You are having thoughts of self-harm
- You feel emotionally numb or disconnected from the people around you for an extended period
Resources for Emotional Recovery
FEMA Crisis Counseling Program. After a federally declared disaster, FEMA funds free, short-term crisis counseling services through state and local agencies. These are not traditional therapy — they are supportive, practical counseling sessions designed to help people process disaster-related stress and connect to resources.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline. Call or text 1-800-985-5990, available 24/7, 365 days a year. Provides immediate crisis counseling and referrals to local disaster behavioral health resources. Available in English and Spanish, with translation services for over 100 languages.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
American Red Cross. The Red Cross provides disaster mental health services, including psychological first aid, at shelters and in communities after major disasters.
Helping Children After an Earthquake
Children's responses to earthquakes vary by age but commonly include clinginess, regression to earlier behaviors (bedwetting, thumb-sucking), sleep disturbances, and fear that the earthquake will happen again.
What helps: maintain routines as much as possible. Let children talk about their experience and ask questions — answer honestly at an age-appropriate level. Don't dismiss their fears ("There's nothing to be scared of") — acknowledge the feelings ("It's okay to feel scared. That was a scary experience, and we're safe now."). Limit exposure to earthquake news coverage and social media, which can re-traumatize.
If a child's symptoms persist beyond a few weeks or significantly disrupt school and daily life, consult a pediatric mental health professional.
Long-Term Recovery
Home Repair and Rebuilding
After documenting damage for insurance, make only emergency repairs needed to prevent further damage — covering broken windows, tarping a damaged roof, shutting off utilities. Do not begin major repairs until your insurance claim has been processed and you've received guidance from your adjuster.
For structural repairs, hire a licensed contractor with earthquake damage experience. In many jurisdictions, permits are required for structural repairs, and some post-earthquake work may be expedited by local building departments. Be cautious of unlicensed contractors who appear after disasters — contractor fraud is a documented problem in disaster recovery zones.
FEMA and SBA (Small Business Administration) disaster loans are available for homeowners who need financial assistance beyond what insurance covers. SBA disaster loans are available to homeowners and renters for property repair and replacement, with low interest rates and long repayment terms.
Community Recovery
Earthquake recovery is not just individual — it's communal. Check on your neighbors, especially older adults, people with disabilities, and families with young children. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), organized and trained by local fire departments with FEMA curriculum, play a critical role in post-earthquake response.
If your community has a CERT program, consider joining. The training covers basic disaster response skills — fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and team organization — and is typically offered free through local fire departments.
After the Earthquake: Action Checklist Summary
| Timeframe | Priority Actions |
|---|---|
| First 60 seconds | Check self for injuries. Check others. Check for gas, water, electrical hazards. Put on shoes. |
| First 5 minutes | Evacuate if building is damaged. Shut off utilities if needed. Prepare for aftershocks. |
| First hour | Text out-of-area contact. Register on Red Cross Safe and Well. Check on neighbors. Assess building damage. |
| First 24 hours | Photograph all damage for insurance. Monitor USGS aftershock forecasts. Locate nearest shelter if needed. Check food and water safety. |
| First week | Contact insurance company. Apply for FEMA assistance if applicable. Begin emergency repairs only. Monitor emotional wellbeing. |
| First month | Complete insurance claim process. Arrange structural assessment if needed. Connect with mental health support if symptoms persist. |
| Ongoing | Monitor aftershock activity. Continue emotional recovery. Update preparedness plan based on lessons learned. |
Sources
- FEMA. "Earthquakes — After." Ready.gov. ready.gov/earthquakes
- American Red Cross. "Earthquake Safety: After an Earthquake." redcross.org earthquake safety
- USGS. "Aftershock Forecasts." usgs.gov aftershock forecasts
- USGS. "Earthquake Hazards Program." earthquake.usgs.gov
- Applied Technology Council. "ATC-20 Post-Earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings." atcouncil.org
- SAMHSA. "Disaster Distress Helpline." samhsa.gov disaster distress helpline
- FEMA. "Individuals and Households Program." fema.gov individual assistance
- SBA. "Disaster Loans." sba.gov disaster assistance
- FEMA. "Community Emergency Response Teams." ready.gov/cert
- American Red Cross. "Find an Open Shelter." redcross.org shelter finder
- FEMA. "DisasterAssistance.gov." disasterassistance.gov