Earthquake Survival 10 Tips Everyone Should Know

Look, earthquakes don’t care if you’re ready. They don’t wait for you to put shoes on, grab your phone, or finish your coffee. One second everything’s normal, the next second the ground is trying to throw you into a wall.

If you live in a city, especially in an older building, you need a simple survival game plan already wired into your brain. Not tomorrow. Not when you “get around to it.” Right now.

This isn’t fear‑mongering. This is street‑level preparedness. These are the exact moves that save lives when everything starts shaking.

And yeah… Brody the Survival Wolf is showing you how it’s done.

TIP 1: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

The moment the shaking starts, your ego needs to shut up.

You’re not a hero. You’re not outrunning the building. You’re not standing there trying to film content for social media.

What you’re gonna wanna do is drop to the ground, get under something solid, and hold on. A desk. A sturdy table. A heavy piece of furniture that can shield you from falling debris.

If there’s nothing to hide under, get low next to an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms.

This move alone saves more lives than anything else on this list.

TIP 2: Stay Away from Windows and Heavy Objects

Windows shatter. Cabinets tip. TVs fall. Bookshelves become weapons.

That’s the real danger zone.

You don’t wanna be anywhere near glass, tall furniture, or anything that can fall or slide.

If you’re near windows, move inward. If you’re near shelves, crawl away low to the ground.

Distance equals survival.

TIP 3: If You’re in Bed, Stay There and Protect Your Head

Earthquakes love hitting at 3 a.m.

And when they do, people die trying to sprint half‑asleep through broken glass.

If the quake hits while you’re sleeping, don’t run.

Stay in bed. Roll onto your side. Cover your head with a pillow or blanket.

Ride it out.

You can deal with evacuation after the shaking stops.

TIP 4: If You’re Outside, Get to an Open Area

Outside isn’t automatically safe.

Buildings drop bricks. Power lines snap. Streetlights fall.

If you’re outdoors when the shaking starts, move into an open space like a parking lot, empty street, or wide intersection.

Get low and stay there until it stops.

Do not run under overpasses or next to buildings.

TIP 5: If You’re in a Car, Pull Over and Stay Inside

Panic driving kills people.

If you’re in a car, pull over as soon as it’s safe.

Stay away from bridges, overpasses, trees, and power lines.

Keep your seatbelt on and stay in the car until the shaking stops.

Your vehicle acts like a little metal safety bubble.

TIP 6: Don’t Use Elevators After the Shaking

Power goes out.

Elevators trap people.

Simple math.

After the shaking stops, use stairs only.

Move slow. Buildings may be structurally damaged.

This isn’t the time to sprint down stairwells.

TIP 7: Check for Gas Leaks and Fires

Aftershocks aren’t the only threat.

Fire is.

Smell gas? Hear hissing?

Get out immediately.

Don’t flip switches. Don’t light candles. Don’t touch electronics.

One spark can turn a damaged building into a blowtorch.

TIP 8: Expect Aftershocks

The first quake is rarely the last.

Aftershocks collapse weakened buildings.

Stay alert. Stay near cover. Be ready to drop again.

Do not relax just because it went quiet.

TIP 9: Have a Go‑Bag Ready

When buildings aren’t safe anymore, you don’t wanna be scrambling for socks and chargers.

Your go‑bag should already be packed.

Water. Snacks. Flashlight. Meds. Copies of important documents.

This bag buys you options.

TIP 10: Train Your Mind for Chaos

Panic kills.

People freeze. Run into danger. Make dumb choices.

Survival is staying calm while everything else loses its mind.

Visualize what you’d do if the quake hit right now.

Mental rehearsal makes your body move when it matters.

Final Survival Reality Check

Look — earthquakes aren’t Hollywood explosions.

They’re violent, silent, disorienting.

They don’t care about your plans.

But they absolutely care about your habits.

What you practice now determines how you move when the ground betrays you.

You don’t need to be paranoid.

You just need to be prepared.

Save this article.

Print it.

Share it with your people.

Because when everything starts shaking…

You won’t rise to the occasion.

You’ll fall to the level of your preparation.

— Urban Warrior Survival