An earthquake can interrupt electricity, water, phone service, transportation, medical access, and grocery deliveries within seconds.

The shaking may last less than a minute, but the disruption can continue for days. Broken glass, fallen furniture, damaged utility lines, blocked roads, fires, and repeated aftershocks can make ordinary tasks much more difficult.

A practical earthquake kit should help your household handle four immediate priorities:

Avoid injuries after the shaking.
Treat minor injuries while professional help is delayed.
Maintain water, food, lighting, and communication.
Respond safely to fire, dust, debris, and damaged utilities.

CDC recommends preparing enough emergency supplies to last at least three days. Earthquake planning should also include securing heavy objects, practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On, identifying utility shutoffs, and creating a household communication and evacuation plan. (CDC)

The ten items in the featured image form a strong starter kit, but they work best when carefully selected, stored, and practiced with before an emergency.

Three Important Improvements to the Featured List

The infographic is useful, but three details deserve clarification.

Store water in more than one container

A single large jug is difficult to move and creates one point of failure. A damaged cap, cracked container, or contaminated storage location could affect the entire supply.

Divide drinking water among several durable containers and store them in more than one accessible location.

Upgrade basic dust masks when possible

For dusty cleanup work, a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator provides better particulate protection than a loose nuisance-dust mask. It must fit closely to the face to work properly, and it will not protect against carbon monoxide, natural gas, chemical vapors, or oxygen-deficient air. (CDC)

Use a fire extinguisher only when escape is still safe

An extinguisher is meant for a small, contained fire. Evacuate instead when smoke is heavy, the fire is spreading, you lack a clear exit, or you are uncertain about your ability to control it. (U.S. Fire Administration)

1. Flashlight or Headlamp

The power may fail immediately after a damaging earthquake.

Broken glass, fallen shelves, displaced furniture, and debris make walking through a dark house especially hazardous. A flashlight lets you inspect the area without introducing an open flame near a possible gas leak.

CDC specifically recommends using flashlights rather than candles after an earthquake. Do not operate light switches, appliances, matches, or lighters when you smell gas or suspect a damaged fuel line because a spark could ignite accumulated gas. (CDC)

What to store

Keep at least:

One flashlight per household member
One headlamp for hands-free work
Spare batteries in the correct sizes
One lantern for general room lighting
A small bedside light beside each bed

A headlamp is particularly useful when treating an injury, carrying supplies, checking utility lines, or helping a child.

Storage tips

Do not keep every light in the same cabinet. Store them where they can be reached without crossing the room:

Beside each bed
Near the main emergency kit
In the kitchen
In the vehicle
Near the electrical panel

Check the lights periodically and replace leaking or corroded batteries.

2. First-Aid Kit

Cuts, punctures, bruises, burns, and sprains may occur during the earthquake or while moving through debris afterward.

A well-organized first-aid kit helps manage minor injuries until medical services become available. It does not replace professional care for serious bleeding, breathing difficulties, head injuries, crush injuries, deep puncture wounds, or suspected fractures.

After an earthquake, USGS recommends checking for injuries, applying direct pressure to bleeding wounds, using clean gauze or cloth, keeping injured people warm, and avoiding unnecessary movement of seriously injured people unless they remain in immediate danger. (USGS)

Useful contents

A home kit may include:

Adhesive bandages
Sterile gauze
Medical tape
Elastic wraps
Antiseptic wipes
Disposable gloves
Trauma shears
Tweezers
Instant cold packs
Burn dressings
Saline eyewash
CPR barrier
First-aid instructions
Household medication and allergy list

Keep prescription medicines in their original labeled containers and follow their required storage temperatures. Add spare eyeglasses, hearing-aid batteries, inhalers, glucose supplies, epinephrine, or other household-specific medical equipment where applicable. CDC advises planning around individual medical, dietary, mobility, and communication needs rather than relying on a generic kit. (CDC)

Training matters

Supplies are more useful when someone knows how to apply direct pressure, clean a minor wound, recognize shock, and perform CPR. Consider completing a recognized first-aid and CPR course before an emergency.

3. Emergency Water Storage

Water service may stop because of broken pipes, power failure, damaged pumps, contamination, or an official safety advisory.

CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and working toward a two-week supply when space and resources permit. Additional water may be needed for pets, hot climates, pregnancy, illness, or medical needs. (CDC)

For four people, the minimum three-day supply is:

4 people × 3 days × 1 gallon = 12 gallons

Choosing containers

Unopened commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable emergency option. When filling reusable containers, use food-grade water containers that:

Close tightly
Are durable and difficult to break
Have not held fuel, pesticides, bleach, solvents, or other toxic products
Can be poured without placing hands inside

Label home-filled containers with the date and replace the water every six months. Store them in a cool location away from direct sunlight, gasoline, pesticides, and household chemicals. (CDC)

Store water in several locations

Avoid putting the complete supply on one high shelf that could collapse.

Divide it among:

A low reinforced pantry shelf
A bedroom emergency station
A vehicle kit
Another secure indoor location

Do not use glass containers in an earthquake kit.

After an earthquake

Listen for local water advisories. When officials say the tap supply may be unsafe, use bottled, boiled, or appropriately treated water for drinking, brushing teeth, cooking, making ice, washing dishes, and preparing infant formula. Boiling kills germs but does not make water contaminated by fuel or toxic chemicals safe. (CDC)

4. Shelf-Stable Food

A damaged transportation network or extended power outage may make normal food storage and shopping difficult.

Keep at least several days of food that:

Requires no refrigeration before opening
Needs little or no cooking
Uses minimal water
Matches household allergies and medical diets
Is familiar to the people who will eat it

CDC and federal preparedness guidance recommend maintaining at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food. (CDC)

Practical choices

Consider:

Canned beans
Canned chicken, tuna, or other protein
Canned fruit and vegetables
Ready-to-eat meal pouches
Nut or seed butter
Crackers
Oatmeal
Shelf-stable milk
Dried fruit
Protein or granola bars
Foods appropriate for infants
Pet food

Store a manual can opener with the food.

Plan complete meals

Do not simply collect unrelated cans. Write down several meals that can be prepared from the kit without normal kitchen service.

For example:

Meal one: canned chicken, crackers, fruit cup
Meal two: beans, ready-to-eat rice, salsa
Meal three: oatmeal, shelf-stable milk, dried fruit

Record how much water and fuel each meal requires.

Rotation

Use a first-in, first-out system. Move older items into normal household meals and replace them before their quality declines.

Inspect cans and packages for swelling, leakage, heavy rust, punctures, pest damage, or broken seals.

5. Charged Power Bank

Mobile phones can provide emergency alerts, text messaging, maps, stored documents, medical information, and family communication.

A charged power bank may keep a phone operating when household electricity is unavailable. Ready.gov recommends maintaining alternative charging methods for phones and including portable chargers among outage-preparedness supplies. (Ready.gov)

What to include

Store:

A reputable power bank
Short charging cables for each device
Any required adapters
A 12-volt vehicle charger
A small solar charger, optional

Choose a power bank with enough capacity for several phone charges rather than relying on several tiny promotional batteries.

Maintenance

Every few months:

Inspect it for swelling, cracks, leakage, or unusual odor.
Recharge it according to its instructions.
Confirm that it charges your actual phone.
Test every cable.
Return it to the kit partially or fully charged as recommended by its manufacturer.

Do not use or charge a damaged lithium-ion battery. Do not place a charging power bank beneath bedding, inside a tightly closed box, or next to flammable material.

Communication strategy

During an emergency, text messages may go through when voice calls do not. Keep an out-of-area contact written on paper so household members have one person through whom they can exchange status information if local communication is disrupted.

6. Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio

Internet service and mobile networks may become overloaded or unavailable.

A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can provide:

Emergency instructions
Evacuation information
Shelter locations
Road closures
Water advisories
Tsunami warnings
Utility updates
Aftershock and public-safety information

CDC advises using a battery-operated radio, mobile alerts, or other available communication methods to follow official information after an earthquake. (CDC)

Choose a practical model

Look for:

AM and FM reception
Weather-alert capability where available
Battery and hand-crank operation
Simple controls
Headphone jack
Replaceable batteries
Built-in light, optional

Do not assume the radio’s built-in phone charger will replace a dedicated power bank. Hand cranking generally produces limited energy.

Store written instructions with the radio and test reception from inside your home.

7. N95 Respirators or Dust Masks

Earthquakes can release dust from drywall, plaster, masonry, insulation, soil, and damaged household materials.

A respirator can reduce the amount of airborne particulate matter inhaled while moving through or cleaning a dusty area.

For substantial cleanup work, CDC recommends at least a disposable NIOSH-approved N95 respirator, along with goggles, gloves, protective clothing, and suitable boots. (CDC)

Choosing the right product

Look for genuine NIOSH approval markings and follow the package instructions.

An N95 should:

Fit closely over the nose and mouth
Use both straps when designed with two
Form a seal around the face
Be replaced when wet, dirty, damaged, or difficult to breathe through

Facial hair in the sealing area reduces protection.

Important limitations

An N95 protects against particles. It does not protect against:

Carbon monoxide
Natural gas
Chemical vapors
Solvent fumes
Oxygen deficiency

Leave the area immediately when you smell gas, experience eye or airway irritation, see an unknown chemical spill, or have difficulty breathing.

Children should not participate in disaster cleanup, and ordinary adult N95 respirators are not designed to fit young children. (CDC)

8. Heavy Work Gloves

Broken glass, nails, sharp metal, splintered wood, and cracked masonry may cover floors and walkways after a quake.

Heavy work gloves protect hands while carefully moving light debris, opening damaged cabinets, and handling emergency equipment.

CDC earthquake-preparedness guidance specifically recommends heavy, durable gloves and sturdy shoes for cleanup and movement through debris. (CDC)

Choose gloves that fit

Store gloves that provide:

Cut and puncture resistance
Secure wrist closure
Good grip
Enough dexterity for tools
A comfortable fit for each adult user

Oversized gloves may slip while lifting debris. Gloves that are too small can restrict movement and split at the seams.

Gloves do not make every task safe

Do not use ordinary work gloves to:

Touch downed wires
Move energized electrical equipment
Handle leaking chemical containers
Enter an unstable building
Lift large structural debris alone
Touch broken gas lines

CDC recommends leaving damaged or unidentified chemical containers undisturbed and following local instructions for hazardous-material cleanup. (CDC)

Store eye protection and sturdy closed-toe shoes beside the gloves.

9. Whistle

A whistle allows someone to signal without continuously shouting.

It may be useful when a person is:

Trapped
Injured
Unable to move safely
Separated from others
Trying to attract attention in a noisy environment

CDC earthquake-preparedness guidance recommends keeping a whistle or another signaling device in a purse, backpack, or emergency supply kit. (CDC)

Where to keep whistles

A whistle is most useful when it remains within reach.

Keep one:

On each household member’s emergency bag
Beside each bed
With mobility equipment
In the vehicle
Attached to a child’s age-appropriate emergency kit

Do not bury it beneath food or water.

Select a loud, durable whistle without a loose internal ball that may jam when wet or dirty. Attach it to a brightly colored cord, but avoid wearing a long cord around the neck where it could become an entanglement hazard.

10. Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher

Earthquake damage can create fires through damaged wiring, gas leaks, overturned appliances, and disturbed cooking equipment.

For many homes, a multipurpose ABC extinguisher is appropriate because it is intended for common combustible materials, flammable liquids, and energized electrical equipment. Choose a model bearing a recognized certification mark such as UL Listed or ULC Listed. (U.S. Fire Administration)

Location

Keep extinguishers:

Visible
Near an exit
Away from the most likely fire source
Mounted where adults can reach them
Free from clutter

Do not position the only extinguisher directly above a stove or behind equipment that may be burning.

When to attempt extinguishment

Use an extinguisher only when:

Everyone has been alerted
Emergency services have been contacted
The fire is small and contained
Smoke is not blocking visibility or breathing
You have a clear escape route behind you
You are physically able to operate the extinguisher
You know which extinguisher to use

Otherwise, leave immediately.

Remember PASS

Pull the pin.
Aim at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle.
Sweep from side to side.

Check the gauge, hose, nozzle, locking pin, and expiration or service instructions regularly. Arrange training through a local fire department when available. (U.S. Fire Administration)

Essential Earthquake Supplies Missing From the Top 10

The ten featured items are a foundation, not a complete household kit.

Consider adding:

Sturdy shoes beside every bed

Broken glass on the floor can cause serious injuries immediately after shaking. USGS recommends wearing sturdy shoes before moving through damaged areas. (USGS)

Prescription medicines and medical equipment

Include medicines, copies of prescriptions, mobility supplies, spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries, and a written medical summary.

Sanitation supplies

Store toilet paper, soap, moist towelettes, garbage bags, disposable gloves, menstrual supplies, and a backup toilet plan.

Warm clothing and blankets

Damaged heating systems, broken windows, or evacuation can expose people to cold weather.

Important documents

Keep copies of identification, insurance information, medical records, emergency contacts, and household inventory in a waterproof and fire-resistant location.

Utility tool

Keep an appropriate wrench or shutoff tool only when your utility provider recommends it. Learn where the controls are and when they should be used.

Do not automatically shut off natural gas after every earthquake. USGS advises turning it off when a leak is suspected because of odor or damaged piping. Once shut off, service may need to be restored by a qualified professional. (USGS)

Pet supplies

Include food, water, medication, leash, carrier, waste bags, identification, and vaccination records.

Store Supplies Where They Will Remain Accessible

A perfect kit is useless when a fallen cabinet blocks it.

Divide supplies between:

Main household kit
Bedside modules
Vehicle kit
Workplace kit
Portable evacuation bags

USGS recommends organizing supplies in convenient locations rather than storing everything in one inaccessible area. (USGS)

Avoid high shelves where heavy containers may fall.

Use:

Low reinforced shelving
Latching cabinet doors
Closed plastic bins
Clear labels
Removable bags

Anchor storage racks so the supplies themselves do not become falling hazards.

Prepare the Home, Not Just the Kit

Many earthquake injuries are caused by objects that fall, slide, or break.

Before a quake:

Anchor tall bookcases and cabinets
Secure televisions and large electronics
Strap the water heater
Restrain large appliances
Install cabinet latches
Move heavy objects to lower shelves
Keep beds away from large windows and unsecured shelving
Repair loose masonry, chimneys, and roof materials
Learn utility shutoff locations
Practice the household meeting and communication plan

CDC recommends identifying unsecured furniture, appliances, glass, shelves, cabinets, and structural hazards before an earthquake and securing them where possible. (CDC)

Renters should ask the property owner before drilling or making structural changes, but many hazards can be reduced using approved straps, latches, and removable restraints.

What to Do While the Ground Is Shaking

Supplies matter after the quake. Protective action matters during it.

Indoors

Stay inside and immediately:

Drop onto your hands and knees.
Cover your head and neck beneath a sturdy table or desk when one is nearby.
Hold On until the shaking stops.

Do not run outside or move to another room during strong shaking. Stay away from windows, tall furniture, hanging objects, and fireplaces. (CDC)

Doorways are not automatically safer than other parts of a modern building.

In bed

Stay in bed and cover your head and neck with a pillow unless an immediate hazard is directly above you. Walking across a floor covered with shattered glass may cause injury. (CDC)

Keep shoes and a flashlight within arm’s reach.

Outside

Remain outside and move toward an open area away from buildings, exterior walls, utility wires, trees, and poles. (CDC)

In a vehicle

Pull over safely away from bridges, overpasses, utility poles, and wires. Set the parking brake and remain inside until the shaking stops. (CDC)

What to Do Immediately After the Shaking

Expect aftershocks

Aftershocks can occur minutes, days, weeks, or months after the initial earthquake. Drop, cover, and hold on again whenever shaking resumes. (CDC)

Put on shoes and gloves

Do this before walking through rooms containing broken objects.

Check injuries

Address serious bleeding, breathing problems, and immediate danger first. Do not move a seriously injured person unless remaining in place is more dangerous.

Inspect for hazards

Look and listen for:

Fire
Gas odor or hissing
Sparking or damaged wiring
Broken water lines
Structural cracking
Falling masonry
Unusual shifting sounds
Downed utility lines

Do not touch fallen power lines or anything in contact with them. Leave a damaged building when you hear movement, see serious structural damage, or officials instruct you to evacuate. (CDC)

Use flashlights

Avoid flames and electrical switches until gas leaks have been ruled out.

Follow official information

Use the radio, mobile alerts, or text messages to monitor evacuation orders, shelter locations, water advisories, and road conditions.

Coastal areas

When strong or prolonged shaking occurs near the coast, move inland and to higher ground as soon as the shaking stops. Do not wait for an official tsunami warning when natural warning signs are present. (CDC)

A Simple Earthquake Kit Maintenance Schedule

Check the kit every six months.

A practical routine is to inspect it when clocks change or at the beginning of spring and fall.

Review:

Water dates and container condition
Food dates
Medication dates
Flashlight batteries
Radio operation
Power-bank charge
Respirator condition
First-aid supplies
Fire-extinguisher gauge
Clothing sizes
Emergency contacts
Pet needs
Household evacuation plan

Run a family Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill at the same time.

The best emergency kit is not the one with the most gear. It is the one your household can locate, understand, carry, and use safely.

Final Safety Note

An earthquake kit supports survival and recovery, but it cannot make an unstable structure safe.

During shaking, drop, cover, and hold on. Afterward, expect aftershocks, wear sturdy shoes, avoid damaged buildings and downed wires, and follow official instructions.

Do not use matches, candles, switches, or appliances when a gas leak may be present. Use fire extinguishers only on small, contained fires when you have a safe exit and know how to operate the equipment.

Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and try to build toward a longer supply. Keep emergency food, medicine, communication equipment, protective gear, documents, and household-specific supplies in several accessible locations.