Each year, there thousands of earthquakes in the USA. If an earthquake would occur in your area, would you be ready? Here is how to prepare yourself.

Before an earthquake

• Get yourself an emergency kit.
• Spot safe locations in each room of your household. Ask all members of your household to memorize them by physically standing there.
• Move or fix the objects that could fall and injure you, like books, plants, mirrors, lamps or china. Keep heavy items on lower shelves. Fix paintings and other wall objects so that they don’t fall off.

During an earthquake

• Stay inside.
• Take refuge under an heavy table, desk or other solid furniture and wait.
• If you cannot take refuge under solid furniture or if you are in a hallway, crouch against an inside wall.
• Stay away from windows, glass partitions, mirrors, fireplaces, bookcases, tall furniture and light fixtures. During an earthquake, you could get injured by broken glass or heavy objects thrown around from the trembling.