Chances are, you still believe this outdated earthquake-safety advice
When an earthquake hits, you have only seconds to act. And if you don’t know exactly what you should do—or you have incorrect information about earthquake safety—you could accidentally be putting yourself in harm’s way.
“Brains don’t function well under stress, and we are likely to revert to the instinct to run, which is one of the worst things to do in an earthquake,” says seismologist Alison Bird, the Liaison & Outreach Officer of Earthquake Early Warning at Natural Resources Canada. “You could fall, and objects and debris may hit you.”
Living in California, I know this all too well. I was just a kid when 1994’s devastating Northridge earthquake hit, but I still remember waking up to the shaking in the early morning—and being soaking wet from a fish tank that had fallen over right next to my bed. (Yuck.) Of course, I didn’t know at the time that this 6.7 quake caused more than 9,000 injuries and 57 deaths and was one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
Luckily, my family and I were safe, but not everyone comes out of a major earthquake unscathed—and many people have no clue what to do when a big one hits. In fact, a 2022 Ipsos poll showed that 77% of respondents thought that one particular bit of outdated earthquake advice was the correct protocol to follow. It’s one that most people have probably heard since they were kids—you, included—but could actually put you in serious danger.
So what’s the one thing you shouldn’t do if there’s an earthquake, and what should you do instead? Read on to find out—and stay safe in this type of extreme weather emergency.
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What popular earthquake advice shouldn’t you follow?
You should never stand under a doorway during an earthquake. Once upon a time, experts theorized that this was a smart spot to shelter because a building’s doorframe was supposedly strong and structurally sound‚ so if you stood under it, you would be protected if the building collapsed. It sounds like a solid theory … but this is actually terrible advice.
Before we get to the reason you shouldn’t do this, let’s explain why this safety myth became so prevalent in America. “An early photo of earthquake damage—from the early 1900s—showed a collapsed adobe home with the doorframe as one of the few remaining upright elements,” Bird explains. “From this came the assumption that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake.” This safety strategy was then taught in schools from the 1940s through the 1970s.
Why is this bad advice?
In modern houses and buildings, according to Bird, doorways are rarely safer than other places in your home, since they are often not structural. Of course, doors can be placed along a load-bearing wall and have a beam or header above them, but doors in and of themselves are not structural home components.
“Plus, doors can slam violently from the strong, horizontal forces in an earthquake,” Bird adds. “They also do not protect you from flying or falling objects.”
And those falling objects are actually more dangerous than you probably think. In fact, most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are actually caused by falling or flying objects or by being knocked over by the force of the earthquake, according to the CDC. So if you run to take cover in a doorway, you risk being hit by something on the way or falling over as you try to get there.
Would a fireplace be a better place to take shelter?
Nope! This bit of bad earthquake-safety advice often goes hand in hand with the “standing in a doorframe” tidbit, but if you can believe it, this may be an even worse idea than the doorframe advice.
While fireplaces may seem sturdy and could potentially block you from falling objects if you make it to one without getting hit by debris, many chimneys are built of brick or stone—which can collapse during an earthquake. I know this firsthand: Everything in my house remained standing during the ’94 quake except for our brick chimney.
What should you do during an earthquake instead?
“Drop, Cover, and Hold On,” according to the current, expert-approved protocols from FEMA and the Red Cross. Here’s what it means in practice:
- First, drop to the floor so you don’t fall.
- Then, take cover, if possible, under tables, desks or other furniture that offer protection from flying objects and debris.
- Finally, hold on to the shelter with one arm, and cover your head and neck with the other arm, until the shaking has fully stopped.
“Through research and observations by seismologists, earthquake engineers, and search-and-rescue specialists, it was discovered that this is the safest response to an earthquake,” Bird says. People who follow this advice have the best chance of both survival and avoiding injury during an earthquake.
However, despite disaster organizations putting forth this information in a more formal way in the 1980s and 1990s, the old “stand in a doorway” advice persists. In fact, New York City mayor Eric Adams even repeated that terrible advice after Manhattan experienced tremors in April 2024.
What other earthquake-safety tips should you keep in mind?
There are a number of earthquake-safety tips for basically any situation—meaning that no matter where you are when you feel shaking, there’s a clear directive for what you should do.
Here’s a wide variety of scenarios and accompanying solutions that you should commit to memory, according to Bird:
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If there’s nothing nearby for you to get under: Drop to the floor against an interior corner or wall (away from windows and other hazards), and cover your head and neck with your arms.
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If you are in bed: Turn onto your stomach, cover your head and neck with pillows, and hold on.
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If you are driving: Stop somewhere safe (away from large trees, bridges or overpasses), set the parking brake, stay inside the vehicle, and activate the emergency flashers.
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If you are outside: Avoid hazards like trees or streetlights, drop to the ground, and use your arms to cover your head and neck.
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If you are in a wheelchair: Turn away from windows and other hazards like large furniture, lock the wheels and, if possible, cover your head and neck with your arms.
Where is the safest place to be during an earthquake?
Bird says that the safest place to be during an earthquake really depends on the situation, but you can be prepared for the worst by making an earthquake-safety plan and practicing it. “I have determined the safest place in each room of my home and at work, and I have practiced going into those places,” she says. “By practicing, you create the muscle memory that should take you to that safe place during an earthquake.”
You can also make your space safer by securing tall or heavy furniture to your wall studs and by storing heavy objects on low shelves and in low cupboards. “I have also installed planks around where my chimney passes through the attic, so if it falls towards the house, the bricks don’t come through to the floors below,” Bird says.
By knowing exactly what to do—and, even more important, what not to do—to stay safe during an earthquake, you’ll be able to make the right choices, even when you have only a moment to act.
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on earthquake safety, Natasha Burton tapped her experience as a longtime journalist and California native who has lived through numerous earthquakes. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Alison Bird, seismologist and Liaison & Outreach Officer of Earthquake Early Warning at Natural Resources Canada; email interview, Sept. 8, 2025
- Southern California Earthquake Data Center: “Northridge Earthquake”
- Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness: “Earthquake Preparedness and Knowledge of Recommended Self-Protective Actions: A Survey of Nursing Students”
- Ipsos: “Most Americans do not have detailed natural disaster emergency plans”
- CDC: “Safety Guidelines: During an Earthquake”
- Earthquake Country Alliance: “How to Protect Yourself During an Earthquake”
