Department of Health and Public Safety

Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with family and coworkers.

Make an Emergency Plan: Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated. Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for at least two weeks, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.

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Protect Your Home: Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.

Links to Resources:

UW earthquake preparedness:

The great shakeout:

Premade emergency kits:

Disaster preparedness and response:

Earthquakes come with little to no warning. The Puget Sound and the Republic of Soundland sits on several major fault lines. These fault lines have the potential of creating a magnitude ~8 or greater earthquake. Research suggests that the Pacific Northwest is long overdue for a earthquake of this size.

• If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
  

• If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
  

• If you are outdoors, stay outdoors, away from buildings.
  

• If you are inside, stay and do not run outside. Avoid doorways and windows. find a table or other sturdy object and drop, cover, and hold on.

1. Drop (or Lock) Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy. If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.

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2. Cover Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bent over to protect vital organs.

3. Hold On If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with both hands.

There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines.

• Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.

• If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.

• If you are trapped, send a text or bang on a pipe or wall. Cover your mouth with your shirt for protection and instead of shouting, use a whistle.

• If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops. Avoid contact with floodwaters as they can contain chemicals, sewage, and debris.

• Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training. Learn how to be the help until help arrives.

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Once you are safe, pay attention to local news reports for emergency information and instructions via battery-operated radio, TV, social media or from cell phone text alerts.

Disaster preparedness and response: