Earthquake Emergency Kit: 12 Essential Items You Need After a Major Quake

Recent major earthquakes are a sobering reminder that the danger does not end when the ground stops shaking.

In the minutes and hours after a powerful earthquake, families may face broken glass, collapsed walls, fallen debris, damaged roads, power outages, fires, leaking utility lines, contaminated water, and repeated aftershocks. A standard emergency kit containing food, water, medications, and flashlights is essential—but it may not contain everything you need to safely navigate the aftermath of a major quake.

Earthquake preparedness requires a few additional items designed specifically for falling debris, dangerous dust, sharp objects, injuries, and damaged utilities.

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Here are 12 important additions to consider for your earthquake emergency kit.

1. Hard Hat and Headlamp

A hard hat and headlamp belong together in an earthquake kit—especially if you need to evacuate through a damaged area, administer first aid in the dark, or safely assist someone nearby.

A hard hat can help protect your head from loose or falling debris after the initial shaking. A headlamp provides light while keeping both hands free for balance, first aid, carrying supplies, or helping another person.

Keep in mind that protective equipment does not make an unstable building safe. Never enter a badly damaged or partially collapsed structure unless trained authorities have declared it safe.

2. Sturdy, Thick-Soled Shoes

One of the simplest earthquake precautions is also one of the most overlooked: keep sturdy shoes beside every bed.

An earthquake can send shattered glass, dishes, picture frames, nails, and other sharp debris across the floor. If a quake strikes during the night, you may have to move through a dark room filled with hazards.

Choose closed-toe shoes or boots with thick, puncture-resistant soles. Do not store them deep inside a closet where fallen objects or damaged doors could make them impossible to reach.

3. Heavy-Duty Work Gloves

Ordinary disposable gloves will not protect your hands from broken glass, jagged metal, splintered wood, or rough concrete.

Add a pair of durable leather or cut-resistant work gloves for every capable adult in your household. They can protect your hands while moving light debris, shutting off a utility, opening a damaged door, or helping an injured family member.

Never attempt to lift or remove heavy debris that could shift, collapse, or cause additional injuries.

4. Safety Goggles

Dust, glass fragments, insulation, and other airborne particles can cause painful or serious eye injuries after a building is damaged.

Well-fitting safety goggles provide more protection than ordinary eyeglasses. Store them in a hard case or sealed bag so they remain clean and ready to use.

5. N95 Respirators

Earthquake damage can release large amounts of dust from drywall, concrete, insulation, wood, and other building materials. Smoke from fires may add to the danger.

Include properly fitted N95 respirators in adult and appropriate child sizes. Each family member should know how to place the respirator securely over the nose and mouth.

An N95 helps filter airborne particles, but it does not protect against gases, low-oxygen environments, or every hazardous substance. If the air appears dangerous or you smell gas, leave the area immediately if you can do so safely.

6. Emergency Whistle

If you become trapped, shouting repeatedly can exhaust you and cause you to inhale more dust.

A loud emergency whistle can help rescuers locate you while requiring far less energy. Keep one in each bedroom, vehicle, emergency bag, and workplace kit.

A whistle attached to a lanyard is easier to keep within reach.

If trapped, protect your mouth, nose, and eyes from dust. Send a text if possible, and tap or bang on a pipe or wall to attract attention.

7. Trauma-Focused First-Aid Kit

Earthquakes can cause cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, fractures, crush injuries, and heavy bleeding. Your first-aid kit should contain more than a few adhesive bandages.

Consider including:

• Sterile gauze pads and rolled gauze

• Pressure dressings

• Medical tape

• Antiseptic wipes

• Elastic wraps

• Splinting material

• Trauma shears

• Disposable medical gloves

• An emergency blanket

• A commercially manufactured tourniquet

Training matters as much as equipment. Take a recognized first-aid, CPR, bleeding-control, or Community Emergency Response Team course before disaster strikes. Never use medical equipment you have not learned to use correctly.

8. ABC Fire Extinguisher

Earthquakes can damage electrical wiring, appliances, and gas lines, increasing the risk of fire.

Keep an accessible multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher in your home, and make sure capable household members know how to use it. A fire extinguisher is intended for a small, contained fire when you have a safe escape route. If a fire is spreading or producing heavy smoke, evacuate and call emergency services.

Use battery-powered lights instead of candles after an earthquake. An open flame or electrical spark could ignite leaking gas.

9. Utility Shutoff Tool

Every capable adult in your home should know where the gas, water, and electrical shutoffs are located. Store the correct tool nearby and label it clearly.

Do not shut off your gas automatically after every earthquake. Turn it off only if you suspect a leak, hear gas escaping, see a damaged line, or receive instructions from authorities or your utility provider. Once the gas has been turned off, a qualified professional may need to restore service.

If you smell gas, avoid flames, appliances, light switches, and anything that could create a spark. Leave the area and report the suspected leak from a safe location.

10. Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio

Cellular service, internet access, and electricity may be unavailable after a major quake. A battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio can provide evacuation notices, tsunami warnings, shelter information, boil-water advisories, and other official instructions.

Store spare batteries with the radio and check them regularly for corrosion or expiration.

11. Charged Power Banks and Cables

Phones may become vital for receiving alerts, sending text messages, accessing saved documents, and contacting loved ones.

Keep multiple power banks charged and include the correct cable for every essential device. Conserve battery power by lowering screen brightness, closing unnecessary apps, and using airplane mode when you do not need a connection.

Text messages may go through when voice calls cannot. Avoid unnecessary calls so emergency networks remain available for urgent communication.

12. Plastic Sheeting, Duct Tape, and a Multitool

Plastic sheeting, heavy-duty trash bags, duct tape, and a quality multitool can support temporary repairs, protect supplies from dust or rain, cover a broken window, isolate damaged areas, or help create an emergency shelter.

These supplies are useful for minor, temporary measures only. Do not attempt to brace, repair, or re-enter a structurally damaged building on your own.

Where Should You Store Your Earthquake Supplies?

The best emergency supplies are the ones you can actually reach.

Do not keep your only earthquake kit beneath heavy boxes, behind a large appliance, or in a garage cabinet that could become blocked. Instead, divide critical supplies among several accessible locations:

• Beside each bed: sturdy shoes, a headlamp, hard hat, gloves, N95 respirator, and whistle

• Main emergency kit: water, food, medications, first aid, radio, power banks, documents, and sanitation supplies

• Near utility shutoffs: the correct shutoff tool and clear instructions

• In each vehicle: walking shoes, water, protective gear, first aid, a light, and a small emergency kit

• At work or school: basic protective supplies and a communication plan

Spreading supplies across multiple locations gives you alternatives if part of your home becomes inaccessible.

What to Do Immediately After an Earthquake

When the shaking stops, pause and look for immediate hazards before moving.

1. Check yourself and others for injuries.

2. Put on sturdy shoes and protective equipment before walking through debris.

3. Expect aftershocks. If shaking begins again, Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

4. Leave a damaged building if it is safe to do so, and move to a clear area away from walls, power lines, and unstable structures.

5. Do not use elevators.

6. Check for fire, electrical hazards, and signs of leaking utilities.

7. Use flashlights or headlamps—not candles.

8. Monitor official emergency instructions by radio or phone.

9. If you are near the coast and strong or prolonged shaking occurs, move inland and to higher ground immediately because a tsunami may follow.

10. Do not re-enter a damaged building until authorities say it is safe.

    
    

Prepare Before the Ground Moves

No emergency kit can eliminate every danger. But the right equipment can help prevent a survivable disaster from becoming a life-changing injury.

Start with the basics: water, shelf-stable food, medications, sanitation supplies, communication tools, copies of important documents, and supplies for every person and pet in your household. Then add earthquake-specific protection for broken glass, falling debris, dangerous dust, injuries, fires, and utility damage.

Begin today by placing sturdy shoes, a hard hat, a headlamp, gloves, an N95 respirator, and a whistle beside each bed.

You may never need them—but after a major earthquake, those few items could help save a life.

Earthquake-Safety Resources

Ready.gov: Earthquakes

Ready.gov: Build an Emergency Kit

CDC: Safety Guidelines After an Earthquake

American Red Cross: Earthquake Safety

This article provides general preparedness information and is not a substitute for instructions from local emergency authorities, structural professionals, utility providers, or medical professionals.