With the earthquake in Venezuela earlier this summer and now the recent earthquake in my beautiful Colombia, I’ve been thinking a lot about earthquakes.

I grew up in South America, so earthquakes aren’t exactly a new concept to me. I’ve experienced them before, and I’ve always known that living in British Columbia means earthquakes are something we should be prepared for. But I realized recently that there were actually a lot of things I didn’t know about what you’re supposed to do when an earthquake happens.

One thing in particular really surprised me. I always knew you shouldn’t use an elevator during an earthquake. That one seemed obvious, but I didn’t realize that if you’re living in an apartment or high-rise building, especially on a higher floor, you also shouldn’t immediately try to run down the stairs while the building is shaking.

My first thought would have been, “Get out! Get down the stairs!” Apparently, that’s not what you should do.

So I started reading more about earthquake safety and thought I’d put together some of the things I’ve learned. Because honestly, I think it’s one of those things we all assume we know… until we actually stop and think about it. And as a mom, I want my kids to know what to do too.

The most important thing to remember: DROP, COVER & HOLD ON!  And I know you’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth repeating because when something scary happens, it’s easy to panic and forget what you’re supposed to do.

DROP
Get down onto your hands and knees so the shaking doesn’t knock you over.

COVER
Get underneath a sturdy table or desk if one is close by. Protect your head and neck.

If there’s no table or desk nearby, move away from windows and anything that could fall and cover your head and neck with your arms.

HOLD ON
If you’re underneath a table, hold onto it because it may move during the shaking.

And stay there until the shaking stops. The biggest thing is: don’t run. Your instinct might be to get outside or get to a safer place, but during the shaking, moving around can actually put you at more risk.

If you live in a high-rise, don’t run for the stairs! This was the thing that really surprised me. Until recently I would have assumed that if a major earthquake happened, I’d grab the kids and we’d head for the stairs, if we were in a building, but I now learned that  if you’re on the 6th flooror above, and the building starts shaking, you should not try to run down the stairs while the earthquake is happening. This only applies for people in the lower floors, and only if it’s safe to do so.

So if you’re on a higher floor: Don’t run to the elevator. Don’t run down the stairs. Don’t run outside.

Find a safe spot, Drop, Cover and Hold On.

Once the shaking has stopped, then you can assess the situation. If the building needs to be evacuated or you’re told to leave, use the stairs—not the elevator. That was definitely a “good to know” moment for me.

However, if you’re already in an elevator when an earthquake happens, you obviously can’t magically get out, so immediately press all floors to get the elevator to stop at the closest floor. If the elevator stops and the doors open normally at a floor, follow the building’s emergency procedures and get out if it’s safe.

And what about standing in a doorway? This is another one that I had always heard since I was a child. “Stand in a doorway!” Apparently, that’s old earthquake advice that has stuck around.

The doorway isn’t necessarily the safest place in a modern home or building, and standing there doesn’t protect you from all the other things that can hurt you during an earthquake—like glass, furniture, light fixtures, or objects falling from shelves. So instead of looking for a doorway, look for a sturdy table or desk. Drop. Cover. Hold On. That’s the advice to remember.

Windows can shatter during an earthquake, so if you’re near one when the shaking starts, move away from it if you can do so safely. The same goes for mirrors, glass doors and anything hanging on the wall that could fall. Basically, look around your home and ask yourself: “If everything started shaking right now, what could fall on me?” That’s what you want to stay away from.

Another instinct we need to fight? Going outside! You might think, “I need to get out of the building!” But running outside while the ground is shaking can actually put you in danger from falling glass, bricks and other debris. If you’re inside, stay inside until the shaking stops. If you’re already outside, stay outside and move away from buildings, power lines, trees and anything that could fall.

If you’re driving when an earthquake happens, slow down and pull over somewhere safe. Try to avoid stopping underneath bridges, overpasses, power lines, trees or anything that could fall. Stay in your vehicle until the shaking has stopped and you know it’s safe to continue.

What should you do AFTER the earthquake?

Just because the shaking stops doesn’t necessarily mean everything is okay; there can be aftershocks, broken glass, damaged buildings, electrical hazards, gas leaks, and other dangers. First, check yourself and your family for injuries, then look around before you start moving through the house.

Put on sturdy shoes if you have them, especially if there is broken glass, and if you see serious damage to your building, follow instructions from emergency officials and building management. If you are told to evacuate, use the stairs, not the elevator.

Don’t light a match, turn on a lighter, or do anything that could create a spark, especially if you smell gas. Leave the area if you can do so safely and follow local emergency instructions. This is also why it’s a good idea to know where your home’s gas, water, and electricity shutoffs are before an emergency happens.

Things you should do now to prepare

Look around your home What could fall during an earthquake? Tall bookcases, heavy mirrors, TVs, shelves and other heavy furniture should ideally be secured. You can also walk around your home and figure out where you would Drop, Cover and Hold On, talk about it with your family members, and your children, it doesn’t have to be scary. Just make it part of a conversation.

You can also prepare an Emergency Kit with some must-have supplies in case you don’t have access to water, food, or electricity. I posted about the must-have items you should have in yours, and how to put an Emergency Kit together HERE.

Hopefully we’ll never need this information I honestly hope none of us ever has to put these tips into practice, but after seeing what happened in Venezuela and now Colombia, I’ve been thinking a lot more about what my family would actually do if we experienced a major earthquake.

And I realized that I didn’t know as much as I thought I did, especially the part about being in a high-rise, so I figured if I didn’t know some of this, maybe someone else doesn’t either. It’s one of those things that takes just a few minutes to learn, but could be incredibly important someday.

Save this post, share it with your family, and take a few minutes to make a plan.

Hopefully, we’ll never need it. ❤️

This post is for general earthquake preparedness information. Always follow instructions from local emergency officials, as recommendations can vary depending on your location and situation.