Earthquake on the street, in the car, on the subway or in a mall: what to do in each case

Our main earthquake guide assumes you’re at home. But a big earthquake can catch you anywhere, and some rules change depending on where you are. This guide pulls together the most important ones, adapted from FEMA’s Ready.gov guidance, which is in the public domain.

The basic rule is the same everywhere: protect your head and neck, and don’t run while the ground is moving.

On the street

• Move away from buildings, poles, power lines, large trees and billboards. The biggest danger outdoors is bricks, ornaments, glass and plaster falling from façades.
• If you’re on a narrow sidewalk between tall buildings, take cover in a sturdy entrance or passage away from windows, and cover your head with your arms or a bag.
• Don’t go into buildings to take shelter.
• Once the shaking stops, keep away from damaged buildings and fallen wires.

Driving

1. Slow down gradually and pull over somewhere open, without slamming the brakes.
2. Avoid bridges, overpasses, tunnels, poles, trees and tall buildings.
3. Stay in the car with your seatbelt on until the shaking stops. The car protects you from falling objects.
4. Then drive on carefully: roads may be cracked, bridges damaged or blocked. Listen to the radio.

On the subway or a train

• Hold on to a pole or seat and protect your head.
• Stay in the train or on the platform. Never get down onto the tracks: they may be live, and other trains may come.
• Trains are stopped automatically or by the controller. Follow staff instructions and evacuate only when told.
• On the platform, keep away from the edge, next to a wall or pillar, head covered.

In a mall, store or supermarket

• Drop, Cover, Hold On where you are, away from tall shelves, display windows and glass walls.
• Don’t run for exits, elevators or escalators: crowds injure more people than the shaking.
• If you’re next to shelving, move away from it or get under something sturdy.

At work or school

• Under a desk or table, holding on to a leg, away from windows and tall cabinets.
• Don’t use the elevator during or after the quake.
• Follow the evacuation plan and assembly point.

In a theater, cinema or stadium

• Stay in your seat, bend forward and protect your head and neck with your arms.
• Leave calmly when the shaking stops, through the marked exits, without pushing.

In a wheelchair or with limited mobility

• Lock your wheels, bend forward and cover your head and neck with your arms, a book or a cushion.
• If you use a walker or cane, sit down where you are if you can, protecting your head.

After the quake, wherever you are

• Expect aftershocks: they can come minutes or hours later.
• Don’t enter damaged buildings and don’t use elevators.
• Text rather than call, so you don’t overload the network.
• If you’re away from home, follow your family emergency plan: the meeting place and out-of-town contact.