This includes ensuring that your home or business is structurally able to withstand an earthquake and that valuables and fixtures are secured. It also means planning for what you will do when an earthquake occurs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends the following actions for earthquake preparation:

  • Identify a safe place, such as under a sturdy table or desk or against an interior wall within a short distance from your location. Ensure your safe place is away from windows and bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you. Protect your eyes by keeping your head down. Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On in each safe place frequently, so it becomes an automatic response.
  • If you are outside in an earthquake, stay outside. Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines. Crouch down and cover your head.
  • Wait in your safe place until the shaking stops. Move carefully and watch out for things that have fallen or broken and thus create hazards. Be ready for aftershocks. If you must leave a building after the shaking stops, use the stairs, not the elevator.
  • Be on the lookout for fires. Fire is the most common earthquake-related hazard due to broken gas lines, damaged electrical lines or appliances, and previously contained fires or sparks being released. On the other hand, earthquakes can cause fire alarms and fire sprinklers to go off, even in the absence of a real fire.

If you are an employer, have an emergency plan in advance, train your employees, and practice earthquake drills regularly.

You can find basic guidelines for earthquake preparation in the following resources:

Persons in or entering areas and buildings after an earthquake face a variety of potential hazards, including but not limited to electrical hazards, structural hazards, displaced gas, and water lines, water system breaks that may flood basement areas, exposure to chemicals such as petroleum products or carbon monoxide, and mold growth from water-impacted building materials. First and foremost, life safety issues, such as ensuring the home or building is structurally sound and avoiding electrical shock or carbon monoxide poisoning, must be considered before any entry or clean-up is initiated.

Before You Begin - The Incident Command System (ICS)

When there is an incident, such as a natural or human-made disaster, an Incident Command System (ICS) is typically established for response command, control, and coordination. ICS is a nationally-recognized framework under which all involved or interested entities and stakeholders (whether federal, tribal, state, local, or private) operate. It establishes one command structure with known and scheduled deliverables and uses standardized terminology.

Because the ICS is mandated for disaster response agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), it is important to note that the ICS may be in place and active in your area, even if the response phase is over and the recovery phase has begun. It is often best to start by performing a search on an internet search browser for "ICS Liaison" and the name of the event or location to see if the ICS has a website set up. If this does not yield an established website for your response, go to www.disasterassistance.gov and enter the affected property address.

If the area inclusive of the address entered has been declared for individual assistance, you can try "Find Assistance" and then "Apply Online" if applicable. If you do not have access to the internet, you may contact FEMA directly:

  • Call 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, 7 days a week:
    • 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)
    • TTY 1-800-462-7585
    • 711 or VRS 1-800-621-3362
    • You can also email: [email protected] (get a response in 1 to 2 business days) or write to:

FEMA
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

This step is important because the incident command may provide invaluable data about what is happening and additional resources before you attempt to return to or enter your home or business.

Structural Damage and Debris

Damage to a home or business from an earthquake can be obvious or hidden, so be aware of possible structural, electrical, or gas-leak hazards. If you have left the area where the damage from a disaster occurred before returning to your home or business, be sure that local officials have declared that it is safe to enter your community.

A system has evolved over the years called the Rapid Evaluation Safety Assessment that public officials might use as a standard method for evaluating the extent of building damage received during an earthquake. If this system is used in your area, the posting system consists of three levels of color-coded placards:

  • Inspected ‒ Green ‒ The building appears to be safe for lawful occupancy and use.
  • Limited Entry (Restricted Use) ‒ Yellow ‒ some restricted use is appropriate for the building, and control of this restriction is given to the building owner or manager.
  • Unsafe ‒ Red ‒ the building is quite damaged, and entry is not allowed. Any exception for entry is controlled by the building jurisdiction, not the owner or manager.

Before entering your home or business, be sure to check with local officials to determine whether the system is in use and whether your home or business has been or will be inspected.

If the system is not in place, look outside for damaged power lines, gas lines, foundation cracks, and other exterior damage. If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or standing water. Approach entrances carefully. Parts of your home may be collapsed or damaged. See if porch roofs and overhangs have all their supports. Try to look inside to check the ceiling and floor for signs of sagging. Look for collapse or partial collapse of the building. Notice if the building or, more likely, a building story is leaning. If the leaning story has structural walls, they will necessarily be deformed and show distress somehow, which is called racking of the walls.

Inspect for falling hazards. Chimneys in wood-frame dwellings and parapets in unreinforced masonry-bearing wall buildings are the most common. Look for ground displacement under or adjacent to the building.

Avoid inspecting your home or business in the dark, unless necessary, and if you must, use a flashlight rather than a candle or torch to avoid the risk of fire or explosion.

In general, if you suspect any damage to your home, shut off electrical power, natural gas, and propane tanks to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions, and do not enter until you are assured it is safe to do so. Once you have made a preliminary inspection and there is no immediate danger, be sure to ultimately contact a trained professional, such as a civil or structural engineer, who will be prepared to make a comprehensive investigation of the space and identify areas in need of repair. You may also contact your local city or county building inspector for information on structural safety codes and standards.

Here is a useful resource to recognize and address these kinds of hazards:

Technical Resources for the IH/OEHS include the following:

Electrical Hazards

Electrical power lines and circuits may have been damaged in a disaster, so look out for fallen wires and take caution when moving about. If a power line falls on your car while driving, stay inside and drive away from the line. Avoid touching any metal or wet object. Be especially cautious of stepping into the water because live electrical lines may have fallen into the water and created an electric shock hazard. If possible and safe, turn off the breaker or remove the fuses in your home when your power is out, especially before connecting a generator to your home’s circuit.

Gasoline or diesel-powered generators must be installed and used correctly. If it is necessary to connect a generator to house wiring, have a qualified electrician install appropriate equipment such as an approved automatic interrupt device to prevent a possible fire if your power is suddenly restored while operating the generator. It would be preferable to have the interrupt device installed before the disaster when resources and trained electricians are widely available. Check the generator’s maximum amperage load and do not exceed it. Always place these generators outside and away from the structure to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you use a portable generator for electricity, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and fires, do not use portable generators inside your house or garage, on balconies; or near doors, vents, or windows. Be sure to place the generator outside and at least 20 feet away from buildings or other structures that people occupy. Never refuel a generator while it is hot.

Additional guidance for homeowners and small business owners is provided at:

Sources of technical guidance for the industrial hygienist include:

Natural Gas and Other Fuels

Many modern homes contain gas-fired appliances such as water heaters, furnaces, and cooking surfaces. The gas used as fuel is always flammable and may ignite in the presence of an ignition source such as a lighter or other spark-producing devices. Flammable fuel service to a home may include natural gas, propane, or fuel oil. Each service may become damaged due to physical damage or displacement of the home from an earthquake. Such damage may cause a fuel leak in the home that may be difficult to detect.

An inadvertent ignition source or spark may ignite a fuel leak, resulting in an explosion and further damage to the occupants' structure and injury. As a result, the home distribution and fuel delivery systems should be inspected immediately following an event that resulted in or could have resulted in physical damage to the piping or fuel distribution structure inside or immediately outside the home.

Such an inspection should occur with the power disconnected and should include the use of a direct-reading combustible gas or volatile organic compound (VOC) detector. The inspection should start at the fuel delivery source, such as a gas meter or propane storage tank shut-off.

Here are some useful resources to recognize and address these kinds of hazards:

  • Consumer Product Safety Commission
    Consumer Safety Pamphlet
    Information about various hazards associated with natural gas appliances.
  • American Gas Association
    Kids & Natural Gas Safety
    A video aimed at educating youth on natural gas safety in the home.

Technical Resources for the IH/OEHS include:

Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials and conditions may be present due to damaged building materials containing lead or asbestos as well as sewage-contaminated items or hazardous materials such as chemicals or cleaning products. In many cases, these building materials are damaged and dislodged during an earthquake, resulting in airborne exposure to fibers and particles. Homeowners should be aware of this potential, and they should take extra precautions when encountering these materials. Besides, the release of petroleum products, such as heating oil and gasoline stored in the garage or a vehicle, into a home or other building can lead to airborne contamination and contamination of the building materials, soil, and groundwater.

For homeowners, here are some useful resources to recognize and address these kinds of hazards:

Technical Resources for the IH/OEHS include:

Heat Stress/Cold Stress

Extreme heat or cold conditions may occur during emergencies and be exacerbated by the loss of heating and cooling during power outages. People also tend to work harder than usual when responding to an emergency, so you may not acclimate your body to a heavy workload under temperature extremes.

Some tips for working under hot conditions include:

  • Keep hydrated. Frequently drink small amounts of water, even before you get thirsty. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and drinks with high sugar content.
  • Eat light, non-greasy meals.
  • Wear light-weight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Schedule heavy tasks earlier in the day or at a time during the day when the heat index is lower.
  • Take frequent rest breaks in a shaded or cool area.
  • Recognize heat stress signs and symptoms:
    • Heat exhaustion - heavy sweating; cool, moist skin; fast, weak pulse with fast, shallow breathing; paleness; faintness; cramping; tiredness; headache; dizziness; nausea; or vomiting
    • Heatstroke - no sweating; red, hot, dry skin; rapid, strong pulse; dizziness; nausea; headache; confusion; uncontrolled twitching; or unconsciousness
    • Heat cramps - usually occur in the abdomen, arms, or legs
    • Heat rash - painful, red cluster of pimples or small blisters most likely on the neck, upper chest, in the groin area, under the breast, or at the elbow or knee creases
  • Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are emergencies that can lead to death. Call for emergency assistance (e.g., 911). Then, gently move the victim to a cool and/or shady area. Loosen clothing, remove footwear, and elevate legs. Cool the victim using cool water or cold packs; in low humidity, you can use wet cloths.

Additional guidance related to working in hot conditions may be found as follows:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
    Heat Stress

Technical guidance for the industrial hygienist includes:


Some tips for working under cold conditions include:

  • Even 60 degrees Fahrenheit can be “cold” when a person is also wet.
  • Wear a warm head, face, and ear covering and layered clothing:
    • 1st layer - material that allows the skin to breathe by allowing sweat to escape, such as polypropylene or knitted silk.
    • 2nd layer - material that absorbs perspiration but does not allow heat to escape, such as polypropylene fleece or other synthetic fibers.
    • 3rd layer - material that traps body heat and keeps water or dampness out, such as quilted coats filled with down or a lightweight microfiber and have a waterproof outer layer. If the coat is not waterproof, wear a water-resistant shell or windbreaker. The outer layer should include provisions for ventilation to prevent the inner layers from becoming wet from sweat. Higher insulation values of protective clothing are required for higher wind speeds and lower temperatures in the work area.
  • Wear waterproof boots to protect your feet. If boots have liners, replace them when damp.
  • Wear gloves or preferably mittens to protect hands. Replace when damp.
  • When working outside in the snow and/or ice-covered terrain, wear special safety glasses with side shields or goggles to protect against UV light, glare, and blowing ice crystals.
  • Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to prevent dehydration and exhaustion. Heated drinks are helpful but limit intake of caffeine.
  • Take regular breaks to get out of the cold environment. Note: When taking a break, remove at least the outer layer of clothing and loosen the remaining layers to permit sweat to evaporate. If clothing is wet, change into dry clothes before returning to a cold environment.
  • Recognize hypothermia’s warning signs:
    • In adults – shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness
    • In infants – bright red, cold skin; deficient energy

Hypothermia is an emergency that can lead to death. If a person has the above symptoms and his or her temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, call for emergency assistance. Gently move the victim to a warm area and begin warming him or her.

Additional guidance related to working in cold conditions may be found as follows:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Technical guidance for the industrial hygienist includes:

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is a combustion byproduct. CO is a chemical asphyxiant that interferes with the body’s ability to re-oxygenate blood and is a common, unfortunate cause of death for many home occupants each year. Homes and commercial structures that are fueled by a hydrocarbon such as natural gas, propane, or fuel oil will generate CO during combustion. This is especially true during peak, seasonal heating demand, such as winter months, when homes may not exchange as much outdoor air.

It is imperative that CO from fuel combustion processes such as generators, hot water heaters or furnaces is adequately vented outside the home. Physical damage to the home, such as following a tornado or earthquake, may damage or compromise home combustion venting apparatus. Inadequate venting or excessive or poorly mixed combustion may result in a CO build up in a home and significant risk to its occupants.

More information on carbon monoxide may be found at:

Other Biological Hazards and Infectious Agents

Contaminated drinking water is the top reason for illness after most disasters. If municipal water sources have been impacted, use one of the following for handwashing, drinking, teeth-brushing, and cleaning children’s toys:

  • bottled water
  • water that has been boiled for one minute then cooled
  • water that has been disinfected with 1/8 teaspoon of household bleach per 1 gallon of water or 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of cloudy water (Allow it to stand for 30 minutes before use.)

To avoid bacterial and viral exposures, hands should be cleaned regularly by either hand-washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing 60% to 95% alcohol). When hands are visibly soiled or dirty, it is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds.

The presence of wild or stray animals in populated areas increases the risk of diseases caused by animal bites (e.g., rabies) and diseases carried by fleas and ticks. To protect yourself and your family from an animal- and insect-related hazards, avoid wild or stray animals; use insect repellent that contains DEET or picaridin; and wear long pants, socks, and long-sleeved shirts.

Livestock might no longer be confined after a disaster, and the pollution they generate may contaminate surface waters used for drinking. Loose dogs or other roaming animals may be lost, frightened, or hurt and more likely to bite. The CDC recommends that you not feed, approach, or call a dog you do not know.

Rats and mice can spread disease, contaminate food, and destroy property. Remove food sources and other items that can provide shelter for rodents. Keep food and water (including pet food) in containers made of thick plastic, glass, or metal with a tight-fitting lid to keep rodents out. For more information, see the following:

In some areas, dust clouds generated by the earthquake may spread bacterial or fungal organisms. At least two reports of a coccidioidomycosis outbreak following an earthquake or dust storm have been documented. Thus, public, IH/OEHS, and physician awareness, especially in endemic areas following similar dust cloud-generating events, may result in prevention and early recognition of disease.

Technical Resources for the IH/OEHS include:

  • Benedict, K., and B.J. Park: "Invasive fungal infections after natural disasters." Emerging Infectious Diseases 20(3):349-355 (2014).
  • McKenzie, L.B., N. Ahir, U. Stolz, and N.G. Nelson: “Household cleaning product-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments in 1990–2006.” Pediatrics 126:509‒16 (2010).
Radiation from Smoke Detectors and Exit Lighting

After natural disasters, homeowners, business owners, and response personnel may encounter some items containing radioactive materials, most notably smoke detectors and commercial exit lights. Smoke detectors are ubiquitous in most buildings, including residential, commercial, and institutional facilities, since there are code requirements to have them in most jurisdictions. Most smoke detectors use a minimal radioactive source, generally americium-241. However, the level of radiation emitted from a smoke detector is insufficient to create a public health hazard, and there are no federal regulatory requirements for disposal.

Dislocated or damaged smoke detectors may or may not suitable for reinstallation. Because smoke detectors save lives, if there is any doubt about a device's suitability, it may be prudent to exercise precaution and purchase a new smoke detector unit. In general, if damaged or unusable, the recovered smoke detector should be returned to the manufacturer if at all possible. Consult local fire protection agencies for advice.

Tritium exit lights are generally found in commercial and institutional facilities, especially in locations where electrical power is not available or difficult to run. Tritium exit signs are devices similar in appearance to exit signs operated by AC or DC electrical circuits. The difference is that tritium exit signs provide illumination from sealed glass tubes inside the unit containing tritium gas, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The tritium gas emits beta particles that interact within the tube to produce illumination.

As long as the glass tube within the sign remains unbroken, there is little risk of radiation exposure. However, if this internal glass tube becomes broken, there is some risk of exposure. If the word “Exit” is not fully or partially illuminated, it indicates that the tritium gas has escaped. As a gas, the tritium will dissipate over time. The rate of dissipation depends on the ventilation rate in the vicinity.

The greatest risk to people occurs when the tritium exit sign first breaks or indicates that there is escaping gas leakage. If a tritium exit sign is broken, leave the area immediately. Consult an industrial hygienist, safety professional, or the state radiation office.

Disposal of tritium exit signs is highly regulated. They must not be disposed of in normal trash or abandoned. If you encounter a displaced tritium exit light, consult with an industrial hygienist or contact the state radiation office in the link above.

You may find additional resources at:

General Response Resources

General disaster relief assistance information is available on these websites:

Topics Emergency Preparedness & Response
Hazards