Earthquakes are a shaking or trembling of the Earth’s crust caused by the release of stresses due to underground volcanic forces, the breaking of rock between the surface, or by a sudden movement along an existing fault line. Earthquakes are unpredictable and strike without warning. They range in strength from slight tremors to great shocks lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Reduce the impact of earthquakes by following these steps:

During an Earthquake

If indoors:

stay clear of falling debris
keep clear of windows, chimneys and overhead fittings. Shelter under, and hold onto, a door frame, strong table or bench
in high-rise buildings, stay clear of windows and outer walls. Shelter under a desk near a pillar or internal wall
do not use elevators.
In crowded buildings, do not rush for doors, but move clear of overhead fittings and shelves.

If outside:

keep well clear of buildings, overhead structures, walls, bridges, powerlines, trees, etc.
shelter from falling debris under strong archways or doorways of buildings.
don’t shelter under awnings as they may collapse.

If in a vehicle:

stop in an open area until the shaking stops
beware of fallen powerlines and road damage, including overpasses and bridges
listen to your car radio for warnings before moving.

Find out more about earthquakes.