Earthquake Safety at 

Home 

FEMA P-530 / March 2020 
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 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
 

Earthquake Safety at Home 

Prepared by 

APPLIED TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL 

201 Redwood Shores Parkway, Suite 240 

Redwood City, California 94065 

www.ATCouncil.org 

Prepared for 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 

Michael Mahoney, Project Officer

Andrew Herseth, Project Manager 

Washington, D.C. 

ATC MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT 

Jon A. Heintz, Program Executive, Program Manager 

Ayse Hortacsu, Project Manager 

Veronica Cedillos, Project Manager 

Zahraa Saiyed, Project Management Consultant 

Project Technical Committee 

Colin Blaney (Project Technical Director) Michael Griffin

Buehler Structural Engineers, Inc. CCS Group, Inc. 

Kelly E. Cobeen Lucy Jones 

Wiss Janney Elstner Associates, Inc. Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society 

Project Review Panel 

Mark Benthien Fred Turner 

Southern California Earthquake Center Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission 

Graphics Consultants 

Christopher Mills Christina Zagara 

Christopher Mills Illustration Creative Engagement Solutions, LLC 

Carol Singer 

Carol Singer Design 

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

FEMA 530 was originally developed and published by the California Seismic Safety Commission. This document also 

benefited greatly from the USGS publication, Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country, originally written by Lucy 

Jones and Mark Benthien. 

NOTICE 

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the

views of the Applied Technology Council (ATC), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA). Additionally, neither ATC, DHS, FEMA, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

expressed or implied, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, product, or process included in this publication. Users of information from this publication assume 

all liability arising from such use. 

Cover images – Illustration for drop, cover, and hold on during an earthquake event. Photos: (top) damaged chimney on 

a house in 2011 Mineral, Virginia Earthquake (photo by Jim Beavers, courtesy of the Earthquake Engineering Research 

Institute); (bottom) damaged house in 2014 Napa, California Earthquake (courtesy of Ronald Gallagher). 

All online resources were accessed December 2019. 

Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

FEMA MISSION 

Helping people before, during, and after disasters. 

FEMA VISION 

A prepared and resilient Nation. 

“The most successful way to achieve disaster resiliency is through 

preparedness, including mitigation. Building a Culture of Preparedness 

within our communities and our governments will support a National 

effort to be ready for the worst disasters – at the individual, family, 

community, state, local, tribal, territorial, and Federal levels.”

 - FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic Plan 

Although the Nation must do more to assess and quantify increasing risks due to earthquakes, we do know that predisaster mitigation works. In 2018, an independent study by the National Institute of Building Sciences, co-funded 

by FEMA, found that for every $1 that the Federal Government invests in earthquake mitigation saves taxpayers an 

average of $3 in future spending. 

Furthermore, experience has shown repeatedly that individuals, communities, and businesses that manage risk 

through insurance recover faster and more fully after a disaster. If an individual does not have the value of their home 

and belongings in their savings, insurance will help them fill that gap when a disaster strikes. While FEMA disaster

assistance supports survivors in the immediate aftermath of a presidentially-declared disaster, this federal support 

only serves as a temporary safety net for immediate needs and does not provide for complete financial recovery.

Financial preparedness, including having an insurance policy on personal and public properties, is critical to helping 

rebuild a home, replace belongings, and restore order to a family and community. 

1 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

How to Use 

this Guide 

When you think of earthquakes, you might think, “I’m sure glad I don’t live in California!” The hard 

truth is that dangerous earthquakes can occur in many other parts of the country as well, but where 

else, why, and how often? Half of all Americans live in areas subject to earthquake risk and most

Americans will travel to seismically active regions in their lifetime.

This guide will show you why you should care about earthquakes wherever you live, and how 

you can Prepare, Protect, Survive, Respond, Recover and Repair. It will help you become familiar

with why and where earthquakes might occur and discuss steps you can take to adequately 

prepare and protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. These steps are wide ranging

and include actions to prepare for an earthquake, such as developing family response plans, 

assembling earthquake disaster supplies, securing heavy objects and furniture, retrofitting your

home, and more. During and immediately after an earthquake, guidelines for survival will help

keep your family safe. Following an earthquake, recommendations for recovery and repair will

help your family resume regular activities as quickly as possible.

The guide has been organized beginning with a brief introduction of earthquake risks 

throughout America followed by actionable advice for earthquake safety. The Respond section 

includes a post-earthquake Home Safety Checklist. Readers using the electronic version of this

document can hover over and click online resource references to be taken to the source website.

A list of resources are provided at the end of this document. You are encouraged to read the entire

document in the order presented, or you can skip to a topic of particular interest.

2 How to Use this Guide 
5 

Earthquakes 

Across 

America 

Understanding 

Earthquake Basics 

and Your Risk 

15 

Prepare 

Securing Your Space, 

Making a Plan, 

and Organizing Your 

Disaster Supplies 

25 

Protect 

Identifying 

and Addressing 

Your Vulnerabilities 

51 

Survive 

Knowing What to Do 

During and Immediately 

after the Earth Shakes 

59 

Respond 

Getting Back in 

Your Home -

The First Few Days 

77 

Recover and Repair 

Restarting Utilities 

and Repairing Damage 

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 How to Use this Guide 3 

Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 86 

Resources 102 
Earthquakes

Across 

America 
 

Overview 

This primer on earthquakes will show you why you should care about 

earthquakes, wherever you live. Half of all Americans are at risk from

earthquake shaking, and all of us can suffer if a regional economy is severely

damaged. We will learn that what you experience during an earthquake

is not determined by the magnitude, but by how strong shaking is where 

you are and how that shaking impacts the built environment. We will

learn how earthquakes are detected, and how you can help when you feel 

earthquakes. We will also learn about additional dangers that may come

with shaking ground.

Do you know the earthquake risk in your location? By clicking on the

map on page 7, you can navigate to the Supplement section at the end of the 

guide that will show you where and why earthquakes have happened in the 

past.

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Earthquakes Across America 5 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

What Causes Earthquakes? 

Earthquakes result from movement of blocks of the 

Earth’s crust. When a block of the crust is pushed past 

another along a fault, friction between the blocks keeps 

them from moving. Eventually, the force of the pushing 

will overcome the friction, and the blocks will move past 

each other releasing energy in waves that we feel as the 

earthquake. 

The driving force behind the motion is plate 

tectonics. The theory of plate tectonics came together 

in the 1960s when geologists noticed the similarity of 

geologic formations separated by the Atlantic Ocean and 

seismologists observed the concentration of earthquakes 

in relatively narrow bands in only certain locations. 

Refer to the Supplement section at the end of the guide to 

learn more about plate tectonics in different regions of 

the country. 

6 Earthquakes Across America 

TYPES OF PLATE BOUNDARIES 

At subduction zones, one 

plate goes underneath the other, 

pushing up the top plate.

At transform boundaries, one plate 

moves past the other.

At spreading boundaries or 

extensional boundaries, lava comes 

up to form new plates and the plates 

move apart from each other.

Juan de Fuca Plate 

North American Plate 

Pacific Plate

African Plate 

Rivera Plate 

Caribbean Plate 

Cocos Plate 

South American Plate 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

The blocks of the Earth that move together are called 

plates and the biggest faults are at the boundaries 

between plates. Most of the United States is on the North 

American Plate. Hot rock comes up from the mantle 

at mid-ocean ridges and cools, creating new sea floor

that moves out over the softer mantle underneath. So 

the North American Plate grows from new ocean floor

in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and pushes down 

other plates of cooled rock along subduction zones that 

run from northern California to Japan. In California, 

the North American Plate slides past the Pacific Plate.

Because of this, the West Coast has more faults and more 

earthquakes than elsewhere in the United States, but 

earthquakes also happen within the plate. 

MAP OF FREQUENCY OF DAMAGING EARTHQUAKE SHAKING IN THE UNITED STATES 

Source information courtesy of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 

Fairbanks

Anchorage Juneau

ALASKA

Augusta

Boston

Albany

New York City

Washington, D.C.

St. Louis

Raleigh Nashville

Atlanta Charleston

New Orleans

San Juan

HAWAII

PUERTO RICO &

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Seattle 

Portland 

Helena 

Boise 

Sacramento Salt Lake City 

San Francisco Denver 

Los Angeles Albuquerque 

Phoenix 

Fairbanks 

Anchorage Juneau 

ALASKA 

Augusta 

Boston 

Albany 

New York City 

Washington, D.C. Indianapolis 

St. Louis 

Raleigh Nashville 

Oklahoma 

City Atlanta Charleston 

Dallas 

New Orleans 

Honolulu San Juan 

HAWAII 

PUERTO RICO & 

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250 

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

See Supplement: Earthquakes Across America on page 86 for more 

information on the plate tectonic settings that produce earthquakes 

throughout the United States. Digital readers can click on the areas

of the map to be taken to the related section in the Supplement.

Earthquakes Across America 7 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

What is an Earthquake? 

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault, 

much like what happens when you snap your fingers. 

Before the snap, you push your fingers together and 

sideways. Because you are pushing them together, 

friction keeps them from moving to the side. When you 

push sideways hard enough to overcome this friction, 

your fingers move suddenly, releasing energy in the 

form of sound waves that set the air vibrating and 

travel from your hand to your ear, where you hear the 

snap. The same process happens in an earthquake. 

Stresses in the Earth’s outer layer push the sides of 

the fault together. The friction across the surface of 

the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip 

immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually, 

enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, 

releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock 

to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. 

Just as you snap your fingers with the whole area of 

your fingertip and thumb, earthquakes happen over 

an area of the fault, called the rupture surface that is 

shown as the blue shaded area between the faults in 

the illustration.

M5 M6 M7 

Earthquake Magnitude 

The volume of the cubes represents the energy released 

in the earthquakes. If the volume of the smallest cube 

is the energy in a magnitude-5 earthquake, then the 

volume of the largest cube is the energy in a magnitude 

7. Each unit of magnitude is 32 times increase in energy 

released.

Measuring Earthquakes 

MAGNITUDE 

Magnitude is a number that describes the total energy 

released in an earthquake as measured by seismologists. 

The amount of energy released increases exponentially 

as the magnitude increases. For example, a magnitude-7 

earthquake releases 1,000 times the energy of a 

magnitude-5 earthquake. Magnitude is measured 

by seismologists, and the most important factor in 

determining the magnitude of an earthquake is the 

area of the rupture surface. The fault for a magnitude-5 

earthquake is a mile or less long, while the fault for a 

magnitude-7 earthquake will be 20 to 30 miles long. 

SHAKING INTENSITY 

The earthquake shaking felt and reported is described 

through something called intensity. This is the earliest 

measurement of earthquake size, and began as a 

description of the level of damage. Most countries, 

including the United States, use the Modified Mercalli

Intensity scale (MMI). The descriptions for each intensity 

level are shown in the table on page 9. 

Intensity will depend on the location it is reported 

from and will generally be lower farther away from the 

fault. The maximum intensity is the intensity reported 

right on top of the fault and generally scales with 

magnitude. The table also shows the magnitude of 

earthquake for which a given intensity level would be 

felt at a location right above the earthquake’s fault. For 

example, if you feel Intensity V shaking, you know that 

earthquake has to have a magnitude of at least 4. If the 

fault is far away, the magnitude would be much larger 

than 4 and the associated ground movement will be less 

because of the distance the waves had to travel. Note that 

the categories in the table are based on observations and 

not on measurements made by instruments. 

8 Earthquakes Across America 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Earthquakes Across America 9

Shaking Intensity versus Measured Magnitude

Modified 

Mercalli 

Intensity

(MMI) Description of Shaking and Damage

The magnitude of an earthquake 

likely to produce this intensity 

as its maximum shaking

I Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions. 2

II Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. 3

III

Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of 

buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing 

motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. 

Duration estimated.

3-4

IV

Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night, some 

awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking 

sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor cars 

rocked noticeably. 

4-4.5

V Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. 

Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop. 4-5

VI Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; 

a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight. 5

VII

Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to 

moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly 

built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.

5.5-6

VIII

Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage 

in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great 

in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, 

monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.

6-6.5

IX

Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed 

frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial 

buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations.

6.5-7

X Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame 

structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent. 7 and higher

Source information courtesy of the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

Detecting Earthquakes 

When an earthquake happens, it is recorded by 

the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In the 

earthquake, the slip of a block of rock past another 

releases energy that makes the ground vibrate. That 

vibration pushes the adjoining piece of ground, causing 

it to vibrate, and thus the energy travels out from the 

earthquake in a wave. As the wave passes by a seismic 

station, that piece of ground vibrates and the vibration is 

recorded. Each seismic station in the network measures 

the movement of the ground at that site. 

Earthquakes produce two main types of waves—the 

P-wave (a compressional wave), and the S-wave (a shear 

wave). The S-wave is both slower and larger than the 

P-wave, and it does most of the damage. Knowing how 

fast seismic waves travel through the earth, seismologists 

can calculate the time the earthquake occurred and 

its location by comparing the times the shaking was 

recorded at several stations. This process of calculating 

the earthquake magnitude used to take almost an hour. 

Now, with the help of computers, this information is 

automatically generated within minutes or even seconds. 

Within a few hours, the shape and location of the entire 

portion of the fault that moved can be calculated. 

Even if you are not a trained seismologist with access 

to equipment, you can help detect earthquakes by 

sharing information with the USGS on their Community 

Internet Intensity reporting program, referred to as “Did 

You Feel It?” (DYFI). DYFI collects information from 

individuals who felt an earthquake and creates maps 

that show extent of damage and shaking intensity. This 

information from the public informs scientists on ground 

motion behavior and helps validate past research and 

theory relating to earthquakes. 

10 Earthquakes Across America 

P-WAVE 

In a P-wave, the ground particles are moving with the wave.

S-WAVE 

In an S-wave, the ground particles are pushed sideways relative to the wave.
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

Earthquake Shaking 

There are a lot of factors that control how much shaking 

is felt. These include: 

Magnitude. A larger magnitude earthquake means that 

the energy is coming off of a bigger fault, releasing the 

energy over a larger area and for a longer period of time. 

You would feel more intense shaking, and more damage 

is expected. 

Distance. Earthquake waves die off as they travel 

through the ground, so earthquake shaking is less 

intense farther from the fault. Low-frequency waves 

diminish less rapidly with distance than high-frequency 

waves. Sound waves behave similarly, as seen in the 

figure below. If you are near an earthquake, you will

experience all the shaking produced by the earthquake 

and feel “jolted.” Farther away, the higher frequencies 

will have died away and you will feel a rolling motion. 

The amount of damage to a building does not depend 

solely on how hard it is shaken. In general, smaller 

buildings, such as houses, are damaged more by higher 

frequencies, so houses must be relatively close to the 

fault to be severely damaged. Larger structures, such 

as high-rises and bridges, are damaged more by lower 

frequencies and will be more noticeably affected by 

larger earthquakes, even at considerable distances. 

 Earthquakes Across America 11 

Sound wave frequencies are similar to earthquake 

waves. Low frequency waves travel farther than the

high-frequency waves.

WAVE FREQUENCIES 

High Frequency

Low Frequency
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Soil conditions. Soils can greatly amplify the shaking 

in an earthquake. Passing from rock to soil, seismic 

waves slow down but get bigger. Hence a softer, loose soil 

may shake more violently than harder rock at the same 

distance from the same earthquake. 

Other factors. Earthquake waves do not travel evenly 

in all directions; the orientation of the fault and the 

direction of movement can change the characteristics of 

the waves in different directions. When the earthquake 

rupture moves along the fault, it focuses energy in the 

direction it is moving so that a location in that direction 

will receive more shaking than a site at the same distance 

from the fault but in the opposite direction. This is 

called directivity. These effects are smaller than the first

three factors. 

Additional Dangers 

LIQUEFACTION 

When loose soil is shaken by an earthquake, it will 

compact just like shaking a canister of flour. If the soil

is dry, the ground will sink a bit and foundations may 

be damaged. However, if the spaces between the grains 

of soil are filled with water, something very different

happens. When the soil compacts in the few seconds 

of an earthquake, the water gets squeezed out from 

the soil but cannot flow away instantaneously. The

pressure in the water goes up and pushes back on the 

sand. When the water pressure pushing on the grains 

equals the pressure of the sand caused by its weight, the 

soil becomes a temporary quicksand in a process called 

liquefaction. It continues to act like quicksand until the 

water can flow away, sometimes for minutes. During that

time, the soil can no longer support structures above, 

causing buildings to shift and sometimes sink. This 

action is similar to when you wiggle your toes on the wet 

sand on a beach, making your feet sink into the sand. 

TSUNAMIS AND SEICHES 

Tsunamis happen when the shape of the seafloor

changes, displacing the water that is on top of it. The two 

primary sources are a thrust fault, which pushes one side 

of a fault up and over the other side effectively pushing 

up the seafloor, or an underwater landslide due to

shaking. The size of the tsunami is based on how much 

water is displaced. A landslide that occurs under water 

can cause a big displacement over a relatively small area, 

making a large, but very local, tsunami. The longest and 

biggest thrust faults are at subduction zones, which can 

push up the seafloor over a very large area. Those faults

can be hundreds to as much as a thousand miles long, 

and a hundred or more miles wide. That whole block of 

rock will move tens of feet in the earthquake, displacing a 

huge volume of water. Those waves then move out across 

the ocean, getting smaller as they spread. Only the 

largest earthquakes, over magnitude 8.5, and especially 

over magnitude 9.0, create tsunamis large enough to 

cause damage on the other side of the ocean. 

A seiche is similar a tsunami, but takes the form 

of sloshing water in closed lakes or bays and has the 

potential to cause serious damage, though occurrences 

have been very rare. 

12 Earthquakes Across America 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

HOW TSUNAMIS ARE CREATED 

Overtime, stress builds up in subduction zones lying under 

the ocean floor.

The stress gets released in an earthquake, which pushes up 

the ground. When the ground moves up, the water above it is

also pushed up.

When the water goes back down, it creates a wave that 

moves out from the fault, generating a tsunami.

From Knowledge to Action 

Many people throughout America are exposed to the risk 

of earthquakes. The western part of the country has the 

most earthquakes, sitting at the boundary between the 

North American and Pacific Ocean Plates. This plate

boundary also has the longest faults, meaning it has the 

biggest earthquakes. However, as shown on the map on 

page 7, earthquakes can occur in many areas throughout 

the United States. 

We all face economic risk from earthquakes. A large 

earthquake that badly damages the economy of one 

area of the United States is going to cause ripple effects 

across the country, so we all have a stake in earthquake 

preparation and protection. 

When large earthquakes cause damage, state, local, 

tribal, and territorial emergency services, with assistance 

from FEMA, will mobilize to help the community 

respond and recover. How much help is needed and 

how long the process takes is more complicated than 

just the earthquake magnitude and will depend on how 

bad the shaking was where people live (intensity). It 

will also depend on what the communities affected had 

done before the earthquake to be better prepared and 

protected, such as requiring buildings and infrastructure 

to be constructed to withstand seismic shaking through 

building codes and advanced engineering standards. All 

levels of society, government, businesses, community 

organizations, and individuals, can contribute to the 

solution. It begins by acknowledging that if we wait long 

enough, every one of us will be affected by earthquakes. 

The only random part is when they will happen. 

 Earthquakes Across America 13 
Prepare
Overview 

This section provides guidance for actions that you and your family can take 

to reduce damage and personal injury from earthquakes through preparation

and planning. Also presented are recommendations for assembling and

organizing disaster supplies for post-earthquake survival.

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Prepare 15 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

Secure Your Space 

There are many simple tasks you can do to prepare 

for earthquakes that range from no cost do-ityourself projects, to more involved tasks that often 

require assistance from outside contractors. The 

implementation of the tasks listed below may not 

represent a complete list, but when addressed, they will 

reduce the potential for injuries. Additionally, these tasks 

will also reduce damage to buildings, potentially saving 

property and contents. 

Note that many of the tasks apply to school, office, and

other spaces frequently occupied during the day as well. 

NO COST TASKS: 

Assess the risks in your home. Using the free publication 

FEMA 528, Earthquake Home Hazard Hunt, identify 

hazards in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, and other 

spaces in your home. Some of the risks identified as a

result of this hunt can be addressed at no cost: relocation 

of items is the primary no-cost strategy. 

• Relocate heavy or large, loose items located high 

overhead (taller than 4 ft) in shelves, cabinets, and 

bookcases to the floor or lower shelves. Make sure that

the shelves and bookcases are also restrained from 

falling—see Low Cost Tasks on page 17. 

• Relocate contents or items that can fall on you where 

you spend a lot of time—your bedroom (large picture 

frame over bed), kitchen (heavy decorations or plants 

on top of cabinets), and living room (tall or narrow 

entertainment units). 

• Clear a path for at least two safe exits such that they 

are free and clear of contents and clutter. Relocate 

heavy or large, unstable furniture, or contents located 

in exit corridors or adjacent to exits that could move or 

overturn, blocking your escape routes from the area 

or home. 

• Remove toxic and flammable materials, or limit

their quantities and ensure they are safely stored to 

prevent spilling. 

Risk at Home! 

There are many contents within a home that present 

a potentially significant risk to your safety during 

and following a major earthquake. The image below 

shows interior damage following the 1994 Northridge 

Earthquake that occurred in California.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WISS, JANNEY, ELSTNER

Taking Control 

While earthquakes are inevitable, the damage 

associated with earthquakes is not. There are many 

things that can be done to limit and reduce the impact 

of damage to property and the disruption to lives 

caused by that damage. The Seven Steps to Earthquake 

Safety offers additional guidance in preparing for 

earthquakes and specific steps to correct or mitigate 

the risks for many of the items discussed here: https:// 

www.earthquakecountry.org/sevensteps/

PHOTO COURTESY OF EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY ALLIANCE

16 Prepare 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

LOW COST TASKS: 

It is a low cost task to secure items that are located high 

and can fall, items that can overturn and fall on you or 

block your exit, and items that if they fall could become 

damaged and create more of a financial risk than safety

risk. These items include: 

OBJECTS ABOVE 

• Hanging lights 

• Ceiling fans 

• Picture frames 

• Hanging mirrors 

• Hanging plants 

• Contents of bookcases and 

kitchen cabinets 

TALL OBJECTS TABLETOP OBJECTS 

• Tall bookcases • Televisions 

• Refrigerators • Stereo systems 

• Armoires • Art objects 

• China cabinets • Glassware and vases 

• Storage racks • Computers 

• File cabinets • Monitors 

• Gym equipment • Printers 

• Water heaters • Speakers 

FEMA 528 – Home Hazard Hunt 

Perform a risk assessment of your 

surroundings at home, school and office, 

looking for common sense hazards that 

could cause injuries, block exit routes, 

or cause property damage during and 

following earthquakes.

 Prepare 17 

FEMA 528 - EARTHQUAKE HOME HAZARD HUNT

HTTPS://WWW.FEMA.GOV/MEDIA-LIBRARY/ASSETS/DOCUMENTS/3261
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

The following are low-cost tasks to reduce your risk: 

• Secure or restrain hot water heaters to prevent 

overturning, flooding, and loss of a post-earthquake or

emergency water source, as well as reduce a potential 

source for fire from gas-fired water heaters. See the

Protect section for detailed guidance. 

• Secure top-heavy furniture items adjacent to exit 

corridors or doors, whether or not relocation is 

possible. These include tall armoires, china cabinets, 

bookcases, kitchen ranges, refrigerators, and file

cabinets. Anchor these items to wall studs directly or 

with straps or tethers. See Protect section for 

more information. 

• Secure heavy mirrors and pictures with at least two 

support points anchored into wall studs with closed 

hooks. 

FEMA E-74 - Reducing the Risks of 

Nonstructural Earthquake Damage 

FEMA E-74 is a comprehensive document that explains 

the sources of nonstructural earthquake damage 

in simple terms and provides methods for reducing 

potential risks. Section 6.5 of FEMA E-74 includes 

description of do-it-yourself tasks for securing furniture 

and contents that are typically found in homes. 

FEMA E-74, REDUCING THE RISKS OF NONSTRUCTURAL EARTHQUAKE

DAMAGE - A PRACTICAL GUIDE

HTTPS://WWW.FEMA.GOV/MEDIA-LIBRARY/ASSETS/DOCUMENTS/21405

• Install child-proof latches to kitchen cabinets above 

counter height to prevent damage and injury from 

falling dishes, glassware, and other contents. Consider 

installing latches on below-counter height cabinets 

as well. 

• Secure electronics that could slide and fall and 

potentially injure you or become damaged. These 

include TVs, computers, printers, and table top 

equipment. Restraints will likely take the form of 

straps or tethers to the furniture or rubber type mats 

to prevent sliding. 

• Secure valuable items to shelves and furniture with 

museum wax to prevent damage. Items may include 

vases, art objects, glassware, and lamps. 

HIGHER COST TASKS: 

Some tasks will be costlier to implement and will 

likely require assistance from a design professional 

and contractor. See the Recover and Repair section for 

guidance on managing outside assistance. 

• Install flexible connections where gas lines connect

to gas-fired equipment to prevent a leak and potential

fire. Such equipment includes hot water heaters,

appliances, overhead unit heaters, and other Heating, 

Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. 

• Restrain or anchor free-standing wood stoves or 

fireplace inserts to prevent damage and possible fires.

• Verify proper restraint or anchorage of brick or stone 

veneer at fireplaces to prevent collapse. Ensure items

mounted to the veneer, such as mantels and TVs, are 

properly restrained to prevent falling. 

• Verify proper restraint of heavy overhead lights and 

other fixtures, such as chandeliers, and add additional

safety wire restraints to prevent falling. 

• Properly install safety film on large glass windows

or doors that could break and shatter, particularly 

overhead or adjacent to exit routes. 

18 Prepare 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Drop, Cover, and 

Hold On! 

Practice how to protect 

yourself. When the earth 

begins to shake, most 

people should: 

(See page 52 for other ways 

to be safe.)

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY ALLIANCE AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE CENTER

HTTPS://WWW.SHAKEOUT.ORG

Make a Plan 

Major life events, such as a wedding, benefit greatly

from having thoughtfully prepared plans well before the 

event happens. An earthquake plan for the protection 

of yourself, family, and others in your community is no 

different. A major earthquake will shake you literally 

and mentally. A plan to reduce consequences of possible 

outcomes developed prior to the event will provide 

greater comfort and control to the extent possible. This 

will allow you to respond to the event faster, and realize a 

likely quicker and less costly recovery. The following list 

is by no means a comprehensive set of tasks, but includes 

items to consider while developing your preparedness 

plan. More information on preparedness planning can 

be found at www.Ready.gov/plan. 

PLAN ESSENTIALS: 

• Learn and practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” 

• Participate in your state or region’s Great ShakeOut 

earthquake drill (at home, work, or school). See 

https://www.Shakeout.org. 

• Gather and record important emergency numbers and 

addresses including contacts. 

• Identify safe spots or areas in your home and around 

other buildings you frequent, such as a school or office.

Safe areas include sturdy tables or desks, open areas 

beneath counters, near an inside wall free of contents. 

If you are outside, locate an open area away from 

power lines, bridges, and windows, façades or other 

architectural elements that could fall off of buildings. 

• Prepare a first aid kit that is readily accessible. Take

a first aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR),

Until Help Arrives (https://community.fema.gov/untilhelp-arrives), or Community Emergency Response 

Team (CERT) training course. Download a first aid

application to your smart phone. 

• Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries and a pair of

sturdy shoes by each bed in your home. Consider 

keeping sturdy shoes and a working flashlight at your

office and in your car.

• Determine if you live or work in a tsunami or seiche 

inundation zone and make sure everyone knows 

the evacuation sirens and shortest routes to higher 

ground or designated vertical evacuation area. Refer to 

Earthquakes Across America for information on tsunamis. 

Check with local government emergency management 

officials or building department to determine the level

of risk of tsunami or seiche inundation. 

• Identify the locations of your home electrical panel and 

shut-off valves for water and gas. Know how to shut off 

each utility if you detect potential damage following 

an earthquake, and ensure all family members are 

trained. 

• Ensure that your home has working smoke, gas, 

CO and CO2 detectors, and replace batteries as 

recommended. 

 Prepare 19 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

FEMA B-526 

FEMA B-526 Earthquake Safety Checklist is a resource 

that provides a quick reference guide to begin the 

development of your Plan:

Earthquake 

Safety 

Checklist 

FEMA B-526 / November 2017 

FEMA B-526 - EARTHQUAKE SAFETY CHECKLIST

HTTPS://WWW.FEMA.GOV/MEDIA-LIBRARY/ASSETS/DOCUMENTS/3234

» Have a gas shut-off wrench readily available and

preferably near the shut-off valve. Turn the gas

off only if you smell or hear leaking gas or see the

meter turning quickly. Keep in mind that if the gas

is shut off, you will have to wait for the local utility to

turn the gas back on and relight the gas appliances

in your home. Refer to the checklist in the Respond 

section for more information.

• If you or a family member is a person with a disability

or has special needs requiring additional assistance,

work with your family or personal support network to

include them as part of your plan.

• Include in your plan the possibility that you will

have to survive in your home for at least three days,

with a week being a more realistic duration. A large

earthquake will strain local emergency services and

time will be required to mobilize and move emergency

crews from outside of the affected area into damaged

areas. Routes away from your home or workplace may

also be blocked, requiring extra time for emergency

services to reach your area. See the Organize Disaster 

Supplies recommendations in this section. 

• Be informed about the earthquake plan developed by

your children’s school or day care. Keep your children’s

school emergency release card current.

• Keep copies of essential documents, such as

identification, insurance policies, and financial

records, in a secure, waterproof container, and keep

copies of the essential documents with your disaster

supplies. Include a household inventory of your

belongings in the form of a list, photos, or video on

record.

• Designate one or two people in your family with the

responsibility of taking the disaster supplies and

essential documents if evacuation is necessary.

• Consider a plan to maintain your car’s fuel supply

to be more than half a tank. This is because a large

earthquake can easily disrupt area utilities and prevent

you from being able to pump fuel for an extended

period of time.

• Consider purchasing earthquake insurance to protect

the financial investment you have in your home

and personal property. Your homeowner and rental

insurance policies will not cover earthquake losses. 

See the Protect section for more information on

earthquake insurance and refer to FEMA’s Earthquake

Infographic in the Resources section.

• Review and practice your plan regularly. An annual

review with your family would be a suggested

minimum time frame to consider.

• Download and complete FEMA B-526, Earthquake

Safety Checklist.

POST-EVENT COMMUNICATION AND 

REUNIFICATION PLAN: 

• Select a meeting location near your home where

all family members can gather if your home is not

accessible.

20 Prepare 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

 

 

Primary Communication Safety Contact 

Pick a primary communication safety contact outside 

of the likely affected region of strong shaking.

• Provide all family members with a list of important 

contact numbers. Besides all family member numbers, 

local police and fire department and emergency

management department phone numbers may be 

helpful following the disaster as it is likely that the 

emergency 911 number will be overloaded. 

• Designate a primary communication safety contact. 

Identify a family member, relative or friend who is 

geographically located a large distance from your 

home’s location as an emergency contact that all 

family members can check in with to communicate 

each other’s safety status and location. Also note that 

both phone or text communication mediums should 

be tried as they operate via separate systems. Text is 

more likely to function during times of high usage than 

phone. 

• In addition to prearranging a primary communication 

safety contact, it is also a good idea to let loved ones 

know if you are planning to use a social media platform 

or other means to keep them informed after an event. 

For example, the American Red Cross maintains 

Safe and Well, a web-based system that helps reunite 

friends and family displaced by a disaster. The Safe 

and Well site is always available and can be used by the 

public for any disaster, large or small. 

• Purchase and learn how to use an emergency or 

weather radio with the public alert feature to obtain 

information on hazards and other emergency status 

information. 

PLAN FOR TRAVELING TO EARTHQUAKE PRONE 

REGIONS: 

Review and understand the earthquake risk of the region 

to which you are traveling. Is it a high seismic region 

where more planning and caution should be exercised? 

The Supplement: Earthquakes Across America section 

provides a good primer on various regions of the country 

that are seismically active and what hazards should be 

considered applicable to the region. 

Emergency Radio 

Consider buying an emergency radio with solar or windup power capabilities.

 Prepare 21 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

 

 

 

Areas to Avoid 

INDOORS 

Tall furniture, televisions, hanging objects, mirrors, 

windows, and exterior-facing walls may fall or break, 

unless secured. Move a few feet to avoid such dangers 

then Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

OUTDOORS 

Nearby buildings, power lines, trees, signs, vehicles,and 

other hazards may fall or be thrown at you. Move to a 

clear area if safe to do so, then Drop, Cover, and Hold 

On. 

Refer to the Survive section on page 50.

• Develop an awareness of your surroundings.

Remember that even small earthquakes can dislodge

and damage contents causing potential life safety risks.

» Identify potential safe areas in your temporary work

and living environment.

» Review potential exit routes out of buildings, such as

emergency exits and stair wells. Identify at least two

different routes. It would be beneficial to use and

become familiar with one of the routes during the

course of your stay if possible.

• Consider carrying a small flashlight in your luggage.

Organize Disaster Supplies 

Disaster supplies should contain essential items in case 

area utilities and other basic services are out or your 

home becomes severely damaged requiring evacuation. 

The supplies should be assembled to provide the 

essentials for a duration of three days to one week. The 

supplies do not need to be prepared all at once, but can 

be assembled over time as budget permits. Above all, 

disaster supplies should be mobile and readily available 

if evacuation is necessary. Items for consideration 

in assembling your disaster supplies are listed next. 

The Build a Kit page of www.Ready.gov/kit can also be 

referenced for more information on assembling disaster 

supplies. 

• Water. The recommended minimum amount of water

for each person or pet is one gallon per day. This can

add up quickly as a family of four will need 12 gallons

of water for a three day duration. Remember that a

hot water heater provides a great water source as it

typically contains 40 gallons of water that can be used,

provided the heater has been properly restrained and

not damaged. Also consider storing water purification

tablets.

Disaster Supplies 

Essential disaster supplies 

should include key items 

such as water, food, 

medical supplies, safety 

items, personal and 

comfort items to ease 

recovery following a major 

disaster. 

22 Prepare 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

• Food. Assemble and store at least a three day supply 

of non-perishable food, such as dehydrated or canned 

foods, for members of your family. Include a manual 

can opener for canned items. Include food for those 

with dietary needs as well as pets. 

• Medical Supplies. Include a first aid kit with a medical

book (download a basic first aid application to your

phone). Include prescription and non-prescription or 

over-the-counter medications and other immediate 

medical supplies required by anyone in the household. 

Include copies of medical consent forms for 

dependents. 

• Safety Items. Include flash lights with spare batteries,

light sticks, and emergency or weather radio with the 

Public Alert feature and extra batteries. In addition, 

include a charged battery block or solar battery 

chargers for cell phones, and a fire extinguisher that is

readily accessible to douse potential post-earthquake 

fires. Other items include a whistle on a lanyard,

gloves, gas shut-off or crescent wrench, small hand 

saw, small pry bar, and rope. 

• Personal Items. Include some emergency cash with 

your disaster supplies as ATMs may not be functioning. 

Small bills are advised as change may not be available. 

Include other personal items particular to each family 

member, such as spare eyeglasses and contacts, 

blankets, and clothing particular to your regional 

climate, such as extra shoes, long sleeve shirts, 

pants, and jackets. Include copies of vital documents 

including driver licenses, passports, and insurance 

policies. In addition, keep your camping equipment, 

such as sleeping bags and portable stoves, accessible 

as these will become useful if utilities have been 

damaged. 

• Sanitation. Include several rolls of toilet paper, bar 

soap in a plastic container, small packs of face tissue, 

plastic bags (large and small), hand sanitizer, and 

towelettes. Keeping a small portable camping toilet 

or bucket with toilet seat stored in the garage or other 

storage area would be useful if the sewer system is not 

operational. 

• Comfort Items. Consider including items that would 

provide comfort in the high stress environment post 

disaster. Items such as comfort foods, games, crayons, 

writing materials, and small outgrown stuffed toys for 

children who may regress under stress can help family 

members cope better with the consequences of the 

disaster. 

• Car and Office Supplies. Assemble disaster supplies 

in smaller amounts of the above items and store in 

your car and office.

• Storage Suggestions. Store as much of the above in a 

central, dry, and easily accessible area. For mobility, 

consider storing much of the contents in backpacks 

or duffle bags that can be easily gathered in an

emergency. Large plastic storage bags, containers, 

or bins are inexpensive and good for organizing and 

storing many of the above supplies. 

 Prepare 23 
Protect 
 

Overview 

In this section, you will learn how to quickly determine vulnerabilities of 

your home to earthquakes and identify measures that can be taken to 

address them before the next earthquake. These vulnerabilities vary from

affecting the overall home to affecting a portion of the home. The risk

associated with the vulnerability may vary from small to extensive damage

and home inhabitability to the potential for serious injury or loss of life.

Many homes have more than one of the vulnerabilities identified within

this section and prioritizing which one to tackle first, or at all, can become

daunting. Although all vulnerabilities discussed have historically led to

earthquake damage and should be addressed, some conditions, such 

as unbraced water heaters and inflexible gas and water connections, are

relatively inexpensive to upgrade and should be the highest priority. The

table on page 27, Earthquake Strengthening Projects, is organized in order 

of project size (small, medium, or large) based on cost and complexity.

Included in the recommendations is information on whether addressing 

the vulnerability could be a do-it-yourself project, or whether contractors,

architects, or engineers might need to be involved. The table also specifies

if “off-the-shelf” or prescriptive solutions are available to aid a particular

strengthening project. If you are a renter, ask your landlord about the safety

of your building and encourage any needed updates or repairs.

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 25 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

Fallacy of Earthquake Proofing 

• There is no such thing as “earthquake proof.”

• Even homes designed to the latest building codes may 

sustain earthquake damage. 

• Homes that have fared well in past earthquakes may 

not have been in the area of highest shaking.

Earthquake Insurance 

If you live in earthquake country, one of the decisions 

you will inevitably face is whether or not to purchase 

earthquake insurance. Although most consider the West 

Coast earthquake country, the fact is that 37 states and 

territories are considered to have moderate to very high 

risk from damaging earthquakes. In addition to taking 

actions by following the guidance in the Prepare section 

or by undertaking earthquake strengthening projects 

in your home as addressed in this section, purchasing 

earthquake insurance should be considered. 

Insurance is about protecting the financial investment

you have in your home and personal property. Damage 

to your home and personal property caused by an 

earthquake is not covered by a standard homeowners’ 

residential or fire insurance policy. By not having

earthquake insurance, you place yourself at risk of 

losing everything you own, or sustaining enough damage 

to your property that you cannot afford to repair if 

your home is jolted by a major earthquake. Without 

earthquake insurance, you will be responsible for all 

costs to repair and rebuild your home, and also for the 

costs associated with replacing personal property and 

to live elsewhere, if necessary. Even if you retrofit your

home and the structure is not damaged, you are still at 

risk for damaged contents and personal property. While 

federal disaster assistance provides temporary support if 

you cannot use your home as well as low interest loans if 

you do not have insurance, it is recommended to obtain 

home insurance to provide the appropriate amount of 

Did you know? 

Most renters’ policies do not cover earthquake damage 

to your belongings—neither will your landlord’s policy. 

protection for your property. 

Renters may also want to consider earthquake 

insurance as most renters’ policies do not cover 

earthquake damage to belongings. In most cases, 

neither will your landlord’s policy. These policies also 

will not help with living expenses if you need to move 

out temporarily following an earthquake. It is important 

to identify what matters most for your immediate and 

long-term needs following an earthquake and obtaining 

additional insurance policies to address those needs. 

Earthquake Strengthening 

Projects 

The following pages present basic information on how to 

identify vulnerabilities and why they matter. Each project 

description also includes an explanation of common 

retrofit solutions, and if available, prescriptive or “off-theshelf” retrofit plans that may be implemented directly

by a general contractor without the need for the services 

of a design professional (licensed contractor, engineer, 

or architect). For small and medium projects that you 

can complete on your own, illustrative descriptions 

are provided for minimum requirements. For projects 

that would benefit from professional assistance,

the illustrations and discussion can be informative. 

Additional resources and information are provided in the 

Resources section, where available. The decision to engage 

a design professional or not depends on the scope of the 

project, the severity of the vulnerability, and your skill 

level specific to retrofit projects.

Homeowners are strongly advised to visit their 

local building department prior to starting any retrofit

work, especially where they intend to perform the work 

themselves or use any prescriptive plans. The building 

department may also be able to tell you the year your 

home was constructed, and whether your home was 

built under a code that considered specific building

vulnerabilities. Many of the home strengthening projects 

may apply to multi-family housing or condominiums. 

Tenants are encouraged to inquire with their landlord 

about any actions that are being taken to assess 

and retrofit homes that fall into any of the following

categories. 

26 Protect 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 27

Earthquake Strengthening Projects

Retrofit Project Page Do-it-yourself

Contractor 

may be required

Design professional 

may be required

“Off-the-shelf” 

or prescriptive 

solutions 

available

SMALL PROJECTS

Restrain Free-Standing 

Water Heater 28 • • •

Anchor Elevated 

Decks, Porches, Trellises, 

and Carports

30 • • •

MEDIUM PROJECTS

Strengthen Weak Cripple 

Walls and Anchor Floors 34 • • • •

Strengthen Improperly 

Nailed Plywood Siding 36 • •

LARGE PROJECTS

Strengthen Hillside Home 

Anchorage to Foundations 38 • •

Strengthen Garage in 

Living-Space-over-Garage 

Homes

40 • • •

Brace Homes Supported 

on Post and Piers 42 • • •

Strengthen Homes with 

Unreinforced Masonry Walls 44 • •

Strengthen Unreinforced 

Stone or Masonry 

Foundations

46 • •

Retrofit Masonry Chimneys 48 • • •
28 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

RESTRAIN FREE-STANDING 

WATER HEATERS 

SMALL PROJECT 

• High priority

• Do-it-yourself

• Plumber recommended

• Restraint kits available

Restrain Free-Standing Water Heaters 

If you don’t do anything else, do this! 

How to Identify 

• Water heater is free standing with no strap-type 

restraint or bracing to adjacent building walls. 

• Gas lines are rigidly connected to water heater 

without flexible joints.

• Cold and hot water lines are rigidly connected to 

water heater without flexible joints

Why it Matters 

• Water heaters are a common source of damage, 

ranging from fire ignited by damaged gas lines, to

water damage that occurs when the tank fractures 

and leaks. 

• Water heaters are also a source of emergency water 

following an earthquake if the utilities have been 

damaged. This is applicable to both gas-fired and

electric water heaters. 

• Damaged exhaust flues for gas-fired heaters could

allow carbon monoxide to build up in the home. 

Photo of water heater failure in

1994 Northridge Earthquake.

COURTESY OF EXPONENT

Damaged flue

Damaged

gas and water 

lines 

Water leaks 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

Common Retrofit Solutions

• The water heater should be braced to adjacent walls 

and flexible lines should be provided for water and

gas connections. 

• Restraining or bracing water heaters is relatively 

easy and inexpensive, with premanufactured 

seismic strapping kits available at many local 

hardware stores or online. The figures show a

common technique for restraining a water heater 

located at a corner or located along a straight wall. 

In both conditions, 2×4 wood blocking is attached 

to the wall studs with lag bolts. The 2×4 blocking is 

used to fill the gap between the water heater tank

and the wall such that the water tank can be pulled 

tight to the blocking with strapping to prevent 

movement. 

• Installing flexible connections is a relatively simple

task; however, a licensed plumber is recommended 

and may be required by local building departments. 

WATER HEATERS RESTRAIN FREE-STANDING 

 Protect 29 

CORNER INSTALLATION 

STRAIGHT WALL INSTALLATION 

Flexible water lines

2x4 wood

blocking 

2x4 wood

blocking 

Flexible water lines

Flexible gas line

Strap 

connection 

Strap 

connection 

2x4 blocking

with lag screws 

to studs 
Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

ANCHOR ELEVATED DECKS,

PORCHES, TRELLISES & CARPORTS 

SMALL PROJECT 

• Do-it-yourself

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required 

Anchor Elevated Decks, Porches, 

Trellises, and Carports 

How to Identify 

• Elevated exterior decks, large projecting roof • Often these structures have minimal or no obvious 

systems, and carports or trellises are either horizontal bracing that would help prevent 

completely free-standing or attached to the house excessive sideways motion and possible collapse. 

on only one side. 

Excessive horizontal movement

due to an earthquake 

Only ledger connection 

along dwelling 

Minimal connections 

30 Protect 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

Only ledger 

connection along 

dwelling 

Minimal 

connections 

PORCHES, TRELLISES & CARPORTS ANCHOR ELEVATED DECKS, 

Why it Matters 

• Elevated decks, porch roofs, carports, and trellises 

can endanger lives if not properly braced, anchored 

to the ground, or firmly secured to an adjacent

dwelling. 

• Elevated decks are often only nominally fastened 

to the dwelling that is supporting them and may 

separate from the house and possibly collapse 

under large sideways motion that is likely with 

moderate to high earthquake shaking. 

• Carports, large porch overhangs, and trellises 

can also move excessively and possibly collapse 

during an earthquake, especially where they are 

completely free-standing or minimally attached to 

an adjacent dwelling. Failed components can also 

block exit pathways. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUSSELL GREEN

 Protect 31 
32 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

ANCHOR ELEVATED DECKS, 

PORCHES, TRELLISES & CARPORTS 

Anchor Elevated Decks, Porches, 

Trellises, and Carports (Continued) 

Common Retrofit Solutions

ELEVATED DECKS 

• Where properly constructed, diagonal bracing can 

be added to the end of the deck (opposite the house) 

to help prevent excessive sideways movement, 

associated damage, and in extreme cases, collapse. 

• Installing horizontal tension anchors perpendicular 

to the home’s exterior wall at each end can also help 

control excessive sideways movement and help 

prevent the deck from separating away from the 

home. 

• It is anticipated that the strengthening of elevated 

decks, carports, trellises, and porches could be 

performed by an experienced homeowner with 

construction knowledge. A general contractor and 

possibly a design professional should be consulted 

in situations where these appurtenances are large 

or complicated, and where the homeowner is 

uncomfortable with connections to the existing 

dwelling including re-establishing adequate 

Diagonal knee

bracing typical 

Horizontal tension anchor

at each end of the deck to 

the existing floor framing

weather protection. 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 33 

 

PORCHES, TRELLISES & CARPORTS ANCHOR ELEVATED DECKS, 

CARPORTS, TRELLISES, AND PORCHES 

• Diagonal bracing should be added to prevent 

excessive sidesway motion and possible collapse. 

Where vertical posts are rigidly attached at the base 

(similar to a flag pole), diagonal bracing may not be

needed. 

• Top and bottom connections of supporting columns 

should also be reinforced with the appropriate 

metal connectors to provide additional strength. 

• Porch overhangs can also pose risk to life-safety 

especially when they are heavy and extend well 

beyond the exterior wall of the dwelling. Similar 

to decks and carports, horizontal tension anchor 

attachments at the house to porch interface, as 

well as metal connectors at the top and bottom of 

columns, should be strengthened. 

Reinforce post Make sure top post 

bases with heavy connections are in 

duty connectors. good condition and 

Connections that reinforce if necessary.

provide rotational 

strength are best.

Attachment at the house

Add diagonal

bracing or knee 

bracing at each 

vertical post. Thick 

concrete 

slab or 

Reinforce post footing.

bases with heavy 

duty connectors.

Connections that 

provide rotational 

strength are best.

to porch interface should 

be strengthened.
34 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

STRENGTHEN WEAK CRIPPLE 

WALLS & ANCHOR FLOORS

 

 

 

 

 

MEDIUM PROJECT 

• Do-it-yourself

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required 

• Prescriptive plans available

Strengthen Weak Cripple Walls 

and Anchor Floors 

How to Identify 

• A cripple wall is a short, flexible wood foundation

wall on the first floor that is vulnerable to damage

during earthquake shaking. 

• First floor is raised above the ground and either

sits directly on perimeter concrete or masonry 

foundations, stem walls, or basement walls possibly 

in combination with wood stud walls not taller than 

7 feet. The ground slope ratio across any side of the 

home is not steeper than 1 vertical to 5 horizontal, 

AND 

• Anchor bolts that attach the existing foundation sill 

to the existing concrete foundation are not visible, 

OR 

• Existing anchor bolts are severely deteriorated or 

have a spacing greater than 6 feet on center, OR 

• Exterior or interior structural sheathing, such as 

plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), is not 

visible on any cripple walls. 

Where the ground slope ratio is steeper than 1 vertical 

in 5 horizontal or the clear height of the tallest cripple 

wall or post is higher than 7 feet, see Strengthen Hillside 

Home Anchorage to Foundation on page 38. 

7 foot Maximum top

of foundation to top 

of cripple wall.

20% Slope maximum.

Crawlspace dwellings have the 

first floor raised above the existing

ground. Look for ventilation

openings.
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 35 

WALLS & ANCHOR FLOORSSTRENGTHEN WEAK CRIPPLE

Why it Matters 

Inadequately anchored homes can slide off of their 

foundations, and inadequately braced cripple walls 

can rack or deflect horizontally, causing significant

damage and potentially collapse. 

Common Retrofit Solutions

Homes with weak cripple walls can be retrofitted

by strengthening cripple walls and anchoring to 

the foundations. FEMA P-1100, Vulnerability-Based 

Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family

Dwellings, Volume 1 provides a description of the 

problem and retrofit solution. Volume 2A presents

a prescriptive plan set for this type of retrofit. It is

anticipated that these strengthening measures could 

be performed by an experienced homeowner with 

construction knowledge. However, working within a 

confined crawlspace can be very difficult which is why

a general contractor is recommended. 

Prescriptive plan sets are applicable to most 

homes and will save the additional cost of a design 

professional. Where a home falls outside the scope 

of these plan sets, a registered design professional 

should be consulted. Most plan sets contain simple 

screening questions that will quickly identify whether 

or not the plan set can be used without engaging a 

design professional. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER

CONDITION WHERE FLOOR FRAMING RESTS 

DIRECTLY ON THE FOOTING OR STEM WALL: 

Add new plywood or OSB

sheathing to the inside face of 

the existing cripple wall studs.

Cripple The amount necessary will vary 

wall. based upon the home’s size and 

construction.

Add new anchor bolts to connect the

existing foundation sill to the existing

foundation.

Add new framing

anchors to connect the 

first level floor to the top

of the foundation sill.

Proprietary anchors may

be required where it is 

impractical to install new 

anchor bolts vertically.

WHERE CRIPPLE WALLS EXIST: 

Add new framing anchors to

connect the first level floor to

the top of the cripple wall.
36 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

STRENGTHEN IMPROPERLY 

NAILED PLYWOOD SIDING 

MEDIUM PROJECT 

• Do-it-yourself

• Contractor may be required 

Strengthen Improperly Nailed 

Plywood Siding 

How to Identify 

• Exterior walls are finished with exposed plywood

siding, either flat with a rough sawn appearance,

or with shallow grooves oriented vertically or

diagonally at a spacing of four to eight inches on

center. This siding type is relatively common in

homes constructed since 1970. When looking

closely, the siding can be observed to be made of

sheets approximately 4 feet wide by 8 to 10 feet

high.

• At the vertical joints, one of the two abutting

plywood sheets can be confirmed to be nailed at 6

to 8 inches on center, but nailing of the other sheet

cannot be confirmed.

• When confirming that this type of siding has been

used, the panel vertical joints can be observed by

looking up at the bottom edge of the siding at the

foundation level. Here the siding joint should be

visible.

• The row of nails on the lower panel edge, if occurs,

can be confirmed visually by probing between the

studs and siding from the interior face of a cripple

wall, or by limited removal of the siding.

Often this condition may also be associated with 

hillside home vulnerabilities. See Strengthen Hillside 

Home Anchorage to Foundation on page 38. 

Where plywood panels abut at 

Home exterior finish

is plywood siding studs, one edge of the plywood is 

nailed at 6 to 8 inches on center, 

but the other edge is not nailed 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 37 

Why it Matters 

Although properly nailed plywood siding generally 

has the same beneficial earthquake bracing

characteristics as plywood and oriented strand 

board (OSB) sheathing, this type of siding is often 

improperly nailed. Homes with this vulnerability are 

more susceptible to damage and possible collapse in 

an earthquake. For homes with crawlspace cripple 

walls with no interior finish (i.e., gypsum board

or plaster on the inside), the plywood siding is the 

only available bracing, making cripple walls with 

improperly nailed siding particularly vulnerable to 

significant damage.

Common Retrofit Solutions

Plywood siding is retrofit by providing additional

nailing so that both panel edges are nailed to the 

studs behind with not less than 8 penny common 

nails at not more than 6 inches on center. Nailing at 

4 inches on center is recommended where possible 

for improved earthquake bracing. Hot-dip galvanized 

nails should be used to reduce corrosion staining of 

the siding. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER

Where possible, the originally intended nailing can be 

provided (see figure below left). Where this nailing is

not practical to install and there is access to the inside 

face of the wall, the addition of new studs inter-nailed 

to the existing studs can allow better access to install 

required edge nailing of the plywood sheet (see figure

below right). 

NAILED PLYWOOD SIDING STRENGTHEN IMPROPERLY 

Where access is 

possible and studs 

New studs added at the inside 

face of the cripple walls can 

provide better access for new 

Nail between existing

and added studs 

are properly aligned, 

sheathing nails can be 

installed in originally 

intended location 

Edge nail 

sheathing 

sheathing nailing 
38 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

STRENGTHEN HILLSIDE HOME 

ANCHORAGE TO FOUNDATION 

LARGE PROJECT 

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required Strengthen Hillside Home Anchorage to 

Foundation 

How to Identify 

• Home is constructed projecting out over a sloping

site (not tucked into the hillside), OR

• Ground slope ratio across any side of the home is

steeper than 1 vertical to 5 horizontal, OR

• Clear height of downhill walls or posts supporting

lowest floor is greater than 7 feet, OR

• Space below lowest floor is not occupied, OR

• Space below may be open or enclosed by walls but

does not have interior wall finish materials installed

(for example, wood wall studs or posts and floor

framing are visible).

Where the ground slope is less steep than 1 vertical 

in 5 horizontal or the clear height of the tallest cripple 

wall or post is less than 7 feet, see Strengthen Weak 

Cripple Walls and Anchor Floors on page 34. 

Greater than 7’-0” 

underside floor to

top of foundation Lowest floor

Space below lowest 

floor is not occupied

Grade slope ratio is on 

average greater than one 

vertical to 5 horizontal 
 

 

 

 

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 39 

Hillside homes collapsed in the

1994 Northridge Earthquake.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF LOS

ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING

AND SAFETY

ANCHORAGE TO FOUNDATION STRENGTHEN HILLSIDE HOME 

Why it Matters 

With earthquake ground shaking, hillside homes can 

pull away from the uphill foundation, resulting in 

significant damage and possibly collapse of the home.

Common Retrofit Solutions

Hillside homes are retrofit by strengthening the

anchorage of the home to the uphill foundation and by 

adding or strengthening walls surrounding the underfloor space (crawlspace). Strengthening work occurs

primarily in the under-floor area. Retrofit elements

are generally within the crawlspace and can include: 

1 Primary Anchors - large tension anchors tying 

each end of the floor to the uphill foundation. New

concrete foundation elements are sometimes added 

as part of this retrofit.

2 Secondary Anchors - smaller tension anchors tying 

the floor to the uphill foundation, occurring at a

regular spacing along the entire length of the uphill 

foundation. 

3 Shear Anchors - anchor bolts from the floor

framing to the uphill foundation, occurring at a 

regular spacing along the entire length of the uphill 

foundation. 

4 Sheathing, anchor bolts, and shear clips on cripple 

walls on all sides of the under floor crawlspace.

It is anticipated that these strengthening measures 

will require the services of a design professional 

experienced in residential construction, and of an 

experienced contractor. FEMA P-1100, VulnerabilityBased Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and

Two-Family Dwellings, Volume 1 provides design 

recommendations for this type of a retrofit.

connection to foundation 

1 Primary anchor

wood beam 

element 

4 Cripple wall with plywood, 

anchor bolts, and shear clips 

1 Primary anchor

concrete element 

2 Secondary anchor 

3 Shear anchor 

2 Secondary anchor 

connection to floor

framing 
40 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

STRENGTHEN GARAGE IN LIVINGSPACE-OVER-GARAGE HOMES 

LARGE PROJECT 

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required 

• Prescriptive plans available

Strengthen Garage in 

Living-Space-over-Garage Homes 

How to Identify 

Living space occurs in an upper story that extends 

substantially or completely over a garage (or space 

constructed primarily as a garage, including utility 

and storage areas). 

Why it Matters 

The garage area of a home often has less earthquake 

bracing than other areas, particularly at the garage 

door opening. With earthquake ground shaking, 

homes with living spaces over a garage can sway 

sideways, resulting in significant damage and possible

collapse of the home. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF J.K NAKATA, AVAILABLE AT WWW.USGS.GOV,

LAST ACCESSED 7/7/19

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER

Narrow walls at garage 

front provide little 

earthquake bracing 

Garage provides little 

or no bracing 

Living space in upper floor

over the garage 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 41 

SPACE-OVER-GARAGE HOMES STRENGTHEN GARAGE LIVINGCommon Retrofit Solutions

Living space over garage homes can be retrofit by

strengthening existing walls around the garage 

perimeter. FEMA P-1100, Vulnerability-Based Seismic 

Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 

Volume 1 provides a description of the problem and 

a retrofit solution. Volume 2B presents a prescriptive

plan set for this type of retrofit.

The garage plan to the right shows typical locations of 

retrofit. The blue arrow indicates the view seen in the

figures below.

• Where the length of wall adjacent to the garage door 

is narrow, steel columns or prefabricated shear 

walls can be placed in a new foundation inside of 

the garage door. 

• Where the length of wall adjacent to the garage door 

side is at least 32 inches, shear walls detailed in 

accordance with the International Residential Code 

can be constructed at the garage door wall. 

• Plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), anchor 

bolts, and shear clips are provided on other garage 

walls. 

It is anticipated that these strengthening measures 

will require the services of an experienced contractor. 

Prescriptive plan sets are applicable to some 

homes and will save the additional cost of a design 

professional. Where the home falls outside of the 

scope of these plan sets, the services of a registered 

design professional experienced in residential 

construction will be required. 

Steel column, prefabricated 

shear wall, or plywood portal 

frame at these locations 

Other walls are 

strengthened 

View angle

for figures

below 

Plywood, anchor bolts, and shear

clips typical on other garage walls Column or shear wall is 

connected into floor above

Steel column 

New concrete Garage New concrete Prefabricated Plywood portal frame shear wall

foundation door foundation shear wall per International Residential Code 

opening 
42 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

BRACE HOMES SUPPORTED 

ON POSTS AND PIERS 

LARGE PROJECT 

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required 

• Prescriptive plans available

Brace Homes Supported on 

Posts and Piers 

How to Identify 

Perimeter of the first floor is predominantly supported

on isolated posts and piers. This could include homes 

in flood prone areas as well as hillside homes.

provides no earthquake 

resistance 

Isolated posts with or without 

Perimeter is often covered

by screening material which 

nominal bracing provide minimal 

resistance to earthquake shaking 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 43 

 

 

 

ON POSTS AND PIERS BRACE HOMES SUPPORTED 

Why it Matters 

Homes supported only by posts are particularly 

susceptible to sideways motion and can be 

significantly damaged and possibly collapse during

earthquakes. 

Common Retrofit Solutions

Retrofit solutions include adding continuous

foundation systems and sheathed cripple walls 

or raised concrete stem walls. See Strengthen 

Weak Cripple Walls and Anchor Floors on page 34 for 

additional information If the home is located in a flood

hazard area and the solid walls are used as part of the 

seismic retrofit, flood vents will need to be added to

allow flood water to equalize pressures. These details

can also be used on manufactured (mobile) homes. 

Temporarily shoring the existing home and the 

addition of new foundations and cripple walls should 

only be attempted by an experienced contractor. 

The prescriptive plan sets available for strengthening 

cripple walls can be applicable and will save the 

additional cost of a design professional. Where a 

home falls outside of the scope of these plan sets, a 

design professional will be required. Most plan sets 

contain simple screening questions that will quickly 

identify whether or not the plan set can be used 

without engaging a design professional. 

Photo of damage to post and piers in Hawaii Earthquake.

COURTESY OF IAN ROBERTSON, AVAILABLE AT WWW.EERI.ORG,

LAST ACCESSED 7/7/19

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY COBEEN

Home retrofitted

with new sheathed 

cripple walls and a 

continuous perimeter 

foundation system 

New cripple wall 

and wood structural 

panel sheathing 

New reinforced concrete 

continuous footing 
44 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

STRENGTHEN HOMES WITH 

UNREINFORCED MASONRY WALLS

 

 

 

LARGE PROJECT 

• High priority

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required 

Strengthen Homes with 

Unreinforced Masonry Walls 

How to Identify 

• Older home with exterior and possibly interior • Unreinforced masonry walls have header courses that 

walls constructed from unreinforced brick masonry are usually placed endwise every 5-6 rows of brick. 

(URM), concrete masonry units (CMU), hollow clay These are used to tie the outer and inner layers of 

tiles, or adobe. brick together. 

Header courses
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 45 

UNREINFORCED MASONRY WALLSSTRENGTHEN HOMES WITH 

 

Why it Matters 

• In these types of homes, the attachment of the 

structural elements (floor and roof beams, walls) is

generally lacking. In addition, the mortar or glue 

that holds the bricks or stones together has limited 

capacity and often fails during strong ground 

shaking. Where mortar has deteriorated, this bond 

is even weaker and more susceptible to breaking. 

Photo of damage to masonry building in Christchurch.

COURTESY OF FRED TURNER, AVAILABLE AT WWW.EERI.ORG,

LAST ACCESSED 8/3/19

Common Retrofit Solutions

Retrofit solutions for homes with walls constructed

from unreinforced masonry generally include: 

• Brace parapets. 

• Install new tension anchors from the walls to the 

roof and floor framing where applicable.

• Strengthen tall walls for out-of-plane and 

in-plane response. Out-of-plane wall strengthening 

can include new interior steel beams and columns 

to reduce the horizontal or vertical span of the walls 

to a length where excessive tension cracking and 

failure is unlikely. In-plane wall strengthening 

can include the addition of new concrete walls 

dependent upon both the amount of solid wall 

available as well as existing mortar condition. 

Strengthening unreinforced masonry walls 

can become a large and complicated project. A 

knowledgeable general contractor is recommended. 

Additionally, a design professional should be 

consulted to develop the necessary strengthening 

design and construction drawings and details. 

• Without horizontal and vertical steel reinforcing, 

masonry, stone, and adobe have very limited 

strength to resist the pushing and pulling forces 

that occur during earthquakes. Heavy exterior 

walls can detach from the wood roof and floor beam

systems due to out-of-plane (outward) movement 

and can collapse. 

• Parapets can move and displace in an earthquake 

and fall to the ground as well as compromise the 

roof-to-wall connections. The taller the parapet the 

more vulnerable it is to collapse. 

Beam pocket with no positive

beam to wall connection 

URM cavity wall Roof or floor beams

ROOF PARAPET WALL BRACING RETROFIT 

Parapet

Bracing

URM cavity wall

Roof or floor beam

retrofit tension

connections 

2x retrofit blocking

between beams 
46 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

 

 

STRENGTHEN UNREINFORCED STONE 

OR MASONRY FOUNDATIONS 

LARGE PROJECT 

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required Strengthen Unreinforced Stone or 

Masonry Foundations 

How to Identify 

• Foundation is constructed with unreinforced • Unreinforced masonry foundations can be 

masonry brick or stone (common until about the identified by observing header courses every 5-6

early 1920’s). rows. 

• Continuous foundation has signs of deterioration, • Isolated stacked brick or stone column supports. 

diagonal cracking, or obvious settlement. 

Continuous 

unreinforced stone or 

masonry foundation 

Isolated 

stone or 

brick piers 

PHOTO COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA PHOTO COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA

SEISMIC SAFETY COMMISSION SEISMIC SAFETY COMMISSION
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 47 

OR MASONRY FOUNDATIONS STRENGTHEN UNREINFORCED STONE 

Why it Matters 

Homes supported on unreinforced stone or masonry 

lack continuous steel reinforcement that helps create 

a stronger, monolithic system that has historically 

performed much better in past earthquakes. Older 

foundations often have deteriorated masonry 

or mortar that makes them weaker. Continuous 

foundations that have signs of deterioration, diagonal 

cracking, or obvious settlement may have already 

been compromised. 

Earthquake damage associated with these foundation 

systems can vary from minor to extreme depending 

upon the original materials used, method of 

construction, their current condition, and the stability 

of the soil they bear on. 

Common Retrofit Solutions

Foundations that are not continuous should be 

replaced. A design professional is recommended 

to assess and design the required retrofits. Where

a design professional recommends retrofitting,

work could include partial to complete foundation 

replacement or strengthening in place. Where a 

design professional recommends new foundations 

or partial replacements, the work should only be 

attempted by an experienced contractor. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL MAHONEY

Photo of damage to unreinforced masonry building in

South Napa Earthquake.

COURTESY OF BETSY MATHIESON, AVAILABLE AT WWW.EERI.ORG,

LAST ACCESSED 7/7/19

New full or partial 

perimeter reinforced 

concrete foundation 

system 

New framing 

anchors and 

anchor bolts 
48 Protect Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

RETROFIT MASONRY CHIMNEYS 

LARGE PROJECT 

• Contractor may be required 

• Design professional may be

required 

• Prescriptive plans available Retrofit Masonry Chimneys

How to Identify 

• Home has a brick or stone masonry chimney. 

• Chimneys are most often located at the dwelling 

exterior wall but can also be at the interior. 

Why it Matters 

• Masonry (brick or stone) chimneys are frequently 

damaged and can collapse in moderate to large 

earthquakes, posing a risk of injury if they fall into 

commonly used areas, either inside or outside the 

home. 

• Older masonry chimneys are particularly 

vulnerable. 

• Even chimneys constructed recently in accordance 

with earthquake bracing requirements may be 

vulnerable to damage, but are considered to pose a 

lesser safety hazard. 

Brick or stone

chimney at 

exterior wall

Brick or stone

chimney can occur 

at roof interior 

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL DATA

CENTER, NATURAL HAZARDS SLIDE SETS (2009)
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Protect 49 

 

RETROFIT MASONRY CHIMNEYS 

Common Retrofit Solutions

• Short of full chimney reconstruction, it is generally 

considered infeasible to retrofit chimneys to meet

modern earthquake bracing requirements. 

• Chimneys are best retrofitted with partial or

complete removal of the masonry. Chimneys can 

then be reconstructed with metal flues or fireplace

inserts and light-frame construction. Retrofit

measures providing a range of hazard reduction 

include: 

» Capping the chimney at the roof level making the 

fireplace no longer usable (see below left),

» Rebuilding the chimney from the top of the 

firebox up, either maintaining the use of the

existing masonry firebox, or installing a fireplace

insert (see below right), or 

» Fully rebuilding the firebox and chimney in wood

or steel stud construction (see below center). 

Complete rebuilding of the chimney using 

masonry must be in full compliance with the 

latest International Residential Code. 

• Where retrofit is not feasible, risk of injury can

be reduced by limiting use of areas immediately 

surrounding the chimney, both inside and outside 

of the home. 

• These strengthening measures will likely require 

the services of an experienced contractor. FEMA 

P-1100, Vulnerability-Based Seismic Assessment and 

Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings, Volume 1 

provides a description of the problem and retrofit

solution. Volume 2C presents a prescriptive plan 

set for this type of retrofit. Prescriptive plan sets

are applicable to some homes and will save the 

additional cost of a design professional. Where the 

home falls outside of the scope of these plan sets, 

the services of a registered design professional 

experienced in residential construction will be 

required. It is important to note that although 

previous guidance suggested strapping of the 

chimney as a retrofit technique, chimney failures

occured due to variations in the solution. Therefore, 

this type of retrofit is no longer recommended.

Chimney is capped at 

roof level, fireplace is

no longer usable 

Chimney is 

rebuilt from 

the top of the 

firebox up

Chimney is fully 

rebuilt with wood or 

steel studs 

CAPPED CHIMNEY PARTIALLY REBUILT CHIMNEY 

FULLY REBUILT CHIMNEY 
Survive 
Overview 

Understanding what you need to do in the event of an earthquake 

is paramount to your safety and your family’s safety. Unfortunately,

earthquakes do not provide us with sufficient warning like other disasters

(hurricanes, wild fires, floods). This chapter provides best practice

recommendations on how to protect yourself and your family during and 

immediately after an earthquake event.

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Survive 51 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

 

 

What to do During an Earthquake 

Federal, state, and local emergency management experts 

and other official preparedness organizations agree

that the best way to reduce injury and death during an 

earthquake is to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” This simple 

three-step reaction can greatly increase your chances of 

surviving the earthquake. When the shaking starts, you 

will have very little time to protect yourself, and it will 

be difficult to move. You must decide what to do quickly.

This section presents different ways to protect yourself 

depending on where you are when the shaking starts. 

In most circumstances, the best way to survive an 

earthquake is to: 

• DROP where you are onto your hands and knees. This 

position protects you from being knocked down and 

also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter 

if nearby. 

• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If 

a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it 

for shelter. If no shelter, crawl next to an interior wall 

(away from windows, tall furniture, or other items that 

might break or fall on you). Stay on your knees and 

bend over to protect vital organs. 

• HOLD ON until the shaking has stopped. If under 

shelter, hold on to it with one hand and be ready to 

move with your shelter if it moves during shaking. 

Otherwise, hold on to your head and neck with both 

arms and hands. 

• DO NOT RUN OUTSIDE! Do not panic. Stay where you 

are until the shaking has stopped. If there is damage, 

be very careful how you exit the building. 

• DISABLED OR LIMITED MOBILITY PERSONS. 

Persons using wheelchairs: lock your wheels, bend 

forward, and Cover your head with your arms and 

Hold On to your head and neck with both hands until 

the shaking has stopped. Do Not Go Outside until the 

shaking has stopped and then make a thoughtful 

assessment of the safest exit route out of the building. 

The best course of action for those with limited 

mobility may be to stay in place and call 911 for 

assistance. 

INDOORS 

• In your home. Move away from windows, Drop onto 

your hands and knees. Cover your head with your arms 

and Hold On to your neck. If near a table or desk, crawl 

under it and Hold On to your shelter with one hand and 

the other hand covering your head and neck. Do Not Go 

Outside until the shaking has stopped. 

Drop, Cover, and 

Hold On! 

When the building begins 

to shake, the immediate 

actions to take for your 

safety are: 

For earthquake protective 

actions for people with 

mobility disabilities, see 

page 57.

52 Survive 

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY ALLIANCE AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

EARTHQUAKE CENTER

HTTPS://WWW.SHAKEOUT.ORG
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

 

• Indoors, no table or desk. Drop onto your hands and 

knees, Cover your head with your arms, and Hold On to 

your neck with both hands. For more protection, crawl 

next to an interior wall or low-lying furniture. 

• If seated and unable to drop to the floor. Bend 

forward, Cover your head with your arms and Hold On to 

your neck with both hands. 

• In bed. Do not get out of bed. Lie face down to protect 

vital organs and Cover your head and neck with a pillow 

keeping your arms as close to your head as possible, 

while you Hold On to your head and neck with both 

hands until the shaking has stopped. 

• In a classroom. Drop, Cover, and Hold On. The desk 

provides the safest shelter in a classroom environment. 

Other education environments including laboratories 

may require added precautions to consider. Do Not 

Go Outside. Wait until the shaking has stopped before 

carefully exiting the building. Follow the instructions 

and directions from teachers and administrators. 

• Utilities. Be aware that building utilities may be 

disabled (loss of electrical power) and sprinkler 

systems or fire alarms may be activated by the shaking.

• Aftershocks. Be prepared to Drop, Cover, and Hold On 

when aftershocks occur. 

Drop, Cover, and Hold On 

examples in your home 

Under a dining room table.

In the open or those with limited mobility.

In the bedroom.

 Survive 53 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

Outdoors 

Move away from the exterior walls of your home to an open

area to prevent building elements, such as glass, chimneys, 

stone or masonry veneer siding, and parapets from falling 

on you.

OUTDOORS 

• Outside your home. Move away from the exterior of 

buildings as things may drop from the building. The 

center of the street, provided traffic has stopped,

offers a safer location. Moving away from the building 

exterior is particularly important due to the potential 

for falling debris – glass shards, masonry or brick 

chimneys, and brick or stone exterior veneer. In older 

construction with unreinforced masonry or brick, 

move away from the exterior walls as brick parapets 

and the upper sections of masonry walls or cladding 

are extremely vulnerable to collapse. 

• Open areas. Quickly move away from power lines, 

trees, vehicles, and other hazards that could become 

damaged and fall, then Drop, Cover, and Hold On to 

protect yourself from any debris that may be thrown 

towards you. 

• In a moving vehicle. Pull over to the side of the road, 

stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, 

powerlines, trees, large sign structures and other 

hazards overhead. Remain in your car until the 

shaking has stopped, then proceed carefully by 

avoiding bridges and overpasses, fallen debris, cracked 

or shifted pavement, and emergency vehicles. 

• Aftershocks. Be prepared to Drop, Cover, and Hold On 

when aftershocks occur. 

What to do Once the Shaking 

has Stopped 

• Wait. Once the shaking has stopped, remain calm and 

wait before getting up to look around you for debris or 

other dangers. 

• Remain in-place if no immediate indication 

of building damage is observed. You are safer 

remaining in the building if it is not damaged. If 

there is no immediate indication of damage, stay 

in the building and monitor local news reports for 

emergency information and instructions. Immediate 

indications of damage include walls noticeably leaning 

or significantly racked, doors jammed so they are not

operational or difficult to open, and floors, ceilings, or

roofs with dropped portions. The Recover and Repair 

section provides a follow-up safety check with more 

detail for your home. 

• Evacuate if the building has an immediate indication 

of damage. Do not panic and remain calm. If there is 

damage to the building and a safe way out through the 

54 Survive 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

debris, cautiously exit the building and go to an open 

space outside. Do not re-enter the building until it has 

been evaluated and determined safe for re-entry. 

Do not use elevators. If your home has an elevator, it 

may be damaged or disabled. Stairs are the safest way 

to exit. 

• If your home is near a shore or below a dam. 

Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking has stopped. 

Then move quickly and safely towards higher ground 

or as instructed to designated evacuation routes or 

areas. Large earthquakes may cause dams to break 

and flood downstream to low-lying areas possibly for

miles. Near shorelines such as the Pacific Coast, the

earthquake may trigger a tsunami. 

• If trapped in your home or a damaged building. 

Do not panic and remain calm. Do not move about if 

it creates additional dust. Avoid shouting as this will 

cause more inhalation of dangerous amounts of dust. 

Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or with clothing. 

Use your cell phone to text or call for help. Notify them 

where you are and your condition. Tap on a metal pipe 

or a wall, or use a whistle if available so rescuers can 

locate you. 

• Check for injuries. 

» Help the injured and provide assistance if you have 

proper training. 

» Do not move seriously injured persons unless they 

are in danger of further injury. 

» If a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on 

the wound. 

911 

911 should only be used in life-threatening distress. 

Social media should not be used to report lifethreatening distress due to potentially limited resources 

available to monitor numerous social media platforms 

during a large-scale rescue effort.

Gas Shut Off 

Know where your gas shut off is located and how to 

turn it off. Turn valve clockwise from vertical (aligned 

with piping) to horizontal (perpendicular to piping) to 

shut off gas. 

» Keep injured persons warm to prevent shock. 

» If help beyond first aid is needed, call 911 or use

text messaging for help. 

• Check for hazards to prevent additional damage. 

» Be prepared for aftershocks. Stay away from 

buildings or areas that look unsafe and could fall. 

» Put out small fires if a fire extinguisher is available.

Evacuate if a large fire is present. Notify the fire

department and alert neighbors if you are unable to 

put out the fire as it could quickly build and spread

to adjacent properties. 

» Shut off the gas supply if you smell or hear a gas 

leak. A rapidly spinning gas meter is also a direct 

indication of a gas leak. Note that only the gas 

company can turn the gas back on, so shut off the 

gas only if necessary. See the Respond section for 

more details on shutting off gas. 

 Survive 55 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

 

What NOT to Do 

Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near 

shattered glass.

Do not use your telephone, except for a medical or 

fire emergency. You could tie up lines needed for 

emergency response.

Do not turn the gas on again if you turned it off; let the 

gas company inspect for leaks and turn the gas back on.

Do not use matches, lighters, candles, camp stoves or 

barbecues, electrical equipment, including telephones, 

or appliances until you are sure there are no gas leaks. 

They may create sparks that could ignite leaking gas 

and cause an explosion and fire.

» If you suspect electrical wiring damage or observe 

sparking, turn off power to your home at the main 

breaker panel by switching the main breaker to off. 

» Clean or contain spills of medicines, drugs, or 

other potentially harmful materials such as bleach, 

lye, and gasoline or other hazardous materials if 

equipped to do so. 

» Unplug appliances and electronics. When power is 

restored, damaged appliances and electronics could 

start a fire.

» Approach chimneys, particularly masonry, very 

cautiously to inspect for damage. The damage 

could have weakened the chimney which could 

topple during aftershocks. Do not use the fireplace

if the chimney is damaged or you see debris inside 

the fireplace from material that has dislodged and

fallen from inside. Using the fireplace could start a

fire or release poisonous gases into your home. Do

not use candles or matches. If there is a gas leak, a 

fire or explosion could occur.

• Communicate. 

» Execute your Post-Event Communication and 

Reunification Plan (see page 20) to let your Primary 

Communication Safety Contact know that you are 

safe. Let them know if you have any immediate 

needs so that they can begin to coordinate with 

emergency responders. Stay off the phone as the 

systems can be overloaded. Use text messaging 

rather than cellular calls. 

» Register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website so 

people will know you are okay: https://safeandwell. 

communityos.org/cms/index.php. 

» Do not expect firefighters, police, or paramedics to

help you right away. They may not be immediately 

available. 

• Access your emergency supplies. 

» Retrieve your emergency supplies. 

» Review and assess how long your stock on hand 

will last. 

» Conserve supplies if necessary. 

• Stay informed. 

» Use any available means (phone, emergency, or 

weather radio) to assess the regional conditions to 

understand the location of help, emergency shelters 

near you, and blocked roads and bridges. 

• Help those in your community. 

» If able, walk your neighborhood and provide 

assistance to neighbors as necessary. 

• Begin the recovery process. 

» Refer to the Respond and Recover and Repair sections 

for additional guidance on the days and weeks 

following the earthquake event. 

56 Survive 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Earthquake Protective Actions for People with Mobility Disabilities 

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY ALLIANCE AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE CENTER

HTTPS://WWW.EARTHQUAKECOUNTRY.ORG/DISABILITY/

 Survive 57 
Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Overview 

Once the emergency situations discussed in the Survive section are 

addressed, residents can turn their attention to returning to their 

neighborhoods and homes, and resuming their usual daily activities once 

it is deemed safe to do so. This chapter addresses earthquake safety at

home in the first days after a damaging earthquake. Included is a Home 

Safety Checklist and a Checklist Summary that should be used in the recovery 

phases following an earthquake.

 Respond 59 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

Re-Entering Your Neighborhood 

If voluntary or mandatory evacuations were ordered 

for your neighborhood, it is important that you not 

return until local authorities (mayor, police, fire, and

other emergency-response personnel) have lifted the 

evacuation order. Reasons for evacuation vary and can 

include significantly damaged buildings, downed power

lines, damage to utility systems, high fire hazard, or

even tsunami flood hazard. When the hazard has been

addressed, local authorities will give notification that

residents can re-enter the area. 

Even if there have been no evacuations of the 

neighborhood, residents are encouraged to be on the 

lookout for potential hazards, and should notify local 

authorities (police, fire, utility companies) if hazards

are found. 

Home Safety Check (by Owner 

or Resident) 

Whether you were at home or away during the 

earthquake, it is important to check home safety before 

continuing to occupy the home. This section provides a 

Home Safety Checklist intended to be used by the owner 

or resident. If you are conducting the home safety check 

in daylight, an exterior check should be performed first

(pages 62-71). If you are conducting the home safety 

check at night, conduct an interior check first (pages 

66-73), followed by an exterior check when it is safe to do 

so. When walking around inside or outside your home 

following an earthquake, sturdy closed-toe shoes and a 

flashlight are recommended in order avoid injury from

broken glass and debris. Refer to the Survive section on 

page 52 for actions to take when you are inside or outside 

of your home during and after an earthquake. 

While using the Checklist, document damage to your 

home or property. Photos or video taken with your phone 

are a good way to document damage. Contact your 

building department or insurance agent as necessary. 

Check Home Safety 

Whether you were at home or away during the 

earthquake, it is important to check home safety before 

continuing to occupy your home.

The first step is a home safety check performed by the 

owner or resident using the Home Safety Checklist.

If indications of concern are found, the second step is a 

home safety evaluation performed by a professional, as 

discussed in Home Safety Evaluation on page 74.

Walk around all accessible portions of the home to 

identify initial indications of damage and label these with 

either OK or Needs Attention on the following checklist 

depending on your best judgment of the damage 

conditions. After checklist items needing attention have 

been resolved, update the home safety checklist. The 

one-page Home Safety Checklist Summary on page 61 can 

be used to summarize conditions that you have identified

in and around your home using the detailed Checklist. 

The checklist describes conditions commonly seen 

following an earthquake and, if needed, recommended 

next steps. Damaged items or areas beyond those in the 

checklist could be found, and follow up measures should 

be taken for any condition thought to be of concern. 

Signs of significant damage to homes are generally

readily obvious, but if unsure, it is always better to err 

on the side of caution. If strong aftershocks occur after 

you have completed the home safety check, consider 

repeating the check. Following the initial walk through, 

this checklist can be used to mark and record repaired 

damage for your home’s recovery. 

Where damage has occurred to the roof or exterior 

walls, steps should be taken to help prevent further 

damage. In some cases, use of tarps over the roof and 

exterior walls will be necessary to protect the interior of 

your home from weather damage. Caution is required 

when climbing on a roof or other portion of the home 

that is believed to be damaged. When in doubt regarding 

safety, do not climb on potentially damaged portions of 

your home. 

60 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Home Safety Checklist Summary 

 Respond 61 

Potentially Damaged Area or 

Condition Page OK 

Needs 

Attention Resolved Notes 

Gas 62

Propane or Other Fuel 

Tanks 62

Masonry Chimneys 63

Masonry Walls and Parapets 64

Solar Panels 64

Manufactured (Mobile) 

Homes 65 

Electrical 66 

Water Leaks 67 

Masonry Veneer 

Detachment 68 

Racked and Leaning Walls, 

Gaps, Stuck Doors and 

Windows 

69 

Sewer Lines 70 

Glass 70 

Water Heaters 71 

Small Appliances 71 

Furniture and Home 

Contents 72

Wall Damage 73
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

Gas 

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for the smell of gas (should have a noticeable 

odor) that might indicate a broken gas line. Check at gas 

meter and in vicinity of gas-powered appliances (such 

as water heaters, furnaces, stoves, and gas fireplaces). If

your home has a crawlspace, check for gas odor at the 

crawlspace access openings and vents. 

Note: If the crawlspace walls have noticeably slid relative 

to the foundation (about an inch or more of sliding) or are 

visibly leaning (top of wall has moved about two inches or 

more relative to bottom of wall), immediately turn off gas 

at the meter and request a home safety evaluation (See 

Home Safety Evaluation on page 74). Do not reoccupy the 

home until the home safety evaluation has occurred. 

If Occurs: 

Turn off your gas at the meter. If gas smell appears to be 

from beyond your property, notify the local authorities 

(call 911) first and then notify the gas company.

Propane or Other Fuel Tanks 

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check above-ground tanks for shifting, falling off their 

supports, damaged anchorages, or other visible damage. 

Check for visible damage to fuel piping and controls. 

If Occurs: 

Turn off fuel flow from the tank to the home. Barricade

the area around the tank and contact qualified

professionals to make needed repairs. 

Turn valve clockwise from vertical 

(aligned with piping) to horizontal 

(perpendicular to piping) to shut 

off gas.

TURN VALVE CLOCKWISE TO SHUT OFF GAS 

62 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Masonry Chimneys 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for masonry chimneys that have cracked, shifted, 

or dislodged. Common locations for damage are at the 

roof line and where the chimney narrows, but damage at 

other locations can occur. 

If Occurs: 

Do not occupy areas in immediate vicinity of the 

damaged chimney, either inside or outside of the home. 

Request a home safety evaluation (see page 74). Note 

that chimneys that have entirely fallen all the way to the 

ground will generally no longer pose a safety hazard. A 

check should be made that there are no remaining loose 

bricks that could still fall. Do not push on a chimney that 

you suspect is damaged, as pushing could cause collapse. 

Regardless of whether or not there is visible damage, 

do not use the fireplace until a chimney inspector has

determined that it is safe to use. 

Note that vents from some appliances, such as furnaces 

and water heaters, are sometimes routed through the 

chimney. Where damage to the chimney is suspected, 

do not operate appliances that vent through the chimney 

until the vent is determined to be functional. 

Damaged Chimneys 

Regardless of whether or not there is visible damage, 

DO NOT use the fireplace until a chimney inspector has 

determined that it is safe to use.

Shifted chimney.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY COBEEN

Earthquake damaged chimney.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANIELE MAFFEI

 Respond 63 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Masonry Walls and Parapets 

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Where the home has brick or stone masonry exterior 

walls, check on the ground around the entire perimeter 

of the home for fallen bricks or stones, check the wall 

(particularly near the roof level) for shifted or dislodged 

bricks or stones, wall leaning, or other indications that 

the wall has pulled away from the building. 

If Occurs: 

Do not occupy areas in immediate vicinity of the masonry 

wall. Block or barricade the area if possible. Request a 

home safety evaluation (see page 74). 

Parapet Chimney 

Masonry parapet separation.

PHOTOS OF DAMAGE TO URM BUILDING FROM 2016 OKLAHOMA EARTHQUAKE,

COURTESY OF EZRA JAMPOLE, AVAILABLE AT WWW.EERI.ORG, LAST ACCESSED

11/13/19

Solar Panels 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for rooftop solar panels that have been damaged or 

shifted, creating a possible falling or fire hazard. 

If Occurs: 

If solar units or wiring appear damaged or units have 

moved significantly, switch off solar electricity feed to the

home when possible. Contact qualified professional to

make needed repairs. If necessary, take steps to stabilize 

inadequately supported units or barricade area where 

they could fall. 

64 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Manufactured (Mobile) Homes 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

In addition to items previously discussed for all home 

types, check to see if the home has fallen off one or more 

support piers. This may be obvious from a distance if the 

home has clearly dropped down towards the ground. If 

there is no clear indication of the home dropping, open 

up the skirting and look for rotated or toppled support 

piers. Where the home has shifted, check utility hookups 

for damage, especially those for natural gas. Check also 

for damage to attached porches, carports, and other 

miscellaneous structures. 

If Occurs: 

Shut off utilities if hookups are damaged. Request a 

home safety evaluation (see page 74). The home will need 

to be reinstalled and utility hookups repaired, if required. 

Manufactured home that has fallen off of support piers.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY COBEEN

Manufactured home rotated and fallen support piers.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY COBEEN

 Respond 65 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Electrical 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for damaged electrical lines. Start with the 

exterior line hookup to your home. If electrical lines are 

underground, check the exterior main electrical panel. 

Look for signs of damage or dislodgement and for circuits 

that may have tripped. 

TURNING OFF ELECTRICITY AT THE MAIN ELECTRICAL PANEL 

OR FUSE BOX 

When time permits, turn off individual breakers or fuses first

(Step 1) and then main breaker or fuse (Step 2). When there

is an immediate hazard, go directly to Step 2.

If Occurs: 

Turn off electrical power to the home at the main 

electrical panel. When possible, turn off each breaker 

switch or fuse (Step 1) before turning off the main 

incoming power breakers (Step 2). This helps avoid 

causing an electrical surge while turning power off. If 

the situation is judged to be an emergency, proceed 

immediately to Step 2. Contact electrical utility for 

damage to hookup and incoming lines. Contact a 

qualified professional regarding electrical damage at

the interior of the home. When unsure about location of 

potential damage, contact the electrical utility. 

Step 2: 

Shut off main breaker or

pull out main fuse(s).

Step 1: 

Shut off individual

breakers or fuses.

66 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Water Leaks 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for liquid dripping or puddling that could be a sign 

of damaged water pipes. Look in vicinity of kitchen and 

bathroom fixtures, and other appliances using water. If

water pipes enter the house through a crawlspace, check 

in the crawlspace. 

If Occurs: 

Water can be turned off at a particular fixture, or if

necessary, for the entire home. The valve to turn off 

water to the entire home may be outside of your home in 

warm weather climates. In other places, it may be where 

the water pipe enters the home. A second valve is often 

found in the immediate vicinity of the water meter. 

 Respond 67 

Turn valve clockwise to turn 

off water to home at the

main water valve (shown) or 

water meter.
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Masonry Veneer Detachment 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check interior and exterior brick or stone wall finishes

for signs of shifting, detachment from wall, or falling. 

One common place to find veneer is surrounding a

fireplace. Stone and brick veneer can separate from the

wall supporting it. If you push (gently) on the brick or 

stone and it visibly moves, there is potentially damage 

and the possibility of the veneer falling down. 

If Occurs: 

Request a home safety evaluation (see page 74). Block 

the surrounding floor or ground areas so no one will be

injured if the veneer falls. 

Brick masonry veneer fallen off of home exterior.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER

68 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

Racked and Leaning Walls, Gaps, 

Stuck Doors and Windows 

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for walls that are visibly racked or leaning (see 

illustration below) or doors and windows that are stuck. 

Check for portions of the home that appear to have 

moved, fallen down, collapsed, or where gaps have 

opened up between portions of the home. 

If Occurs: 

Request a home safety evaluation (see page 74). Where 

any of the following are found, do not occupy the home 

until the home safety evaluation has occurred: 

• Walls are significantly racked or leaning (top of the wall

has moved approximately one or more inches relative 

to the bottom of the wall), or 

• Gaps between portions of the home are approximately 

an inch or more, or 

• Portions of the home appear to be falling down, or 

• Exit doors are stuck so that it may be difficult to exit in

an emergency. 

Examples of significant earthquake damage—portions of homes

that appear to be leaning or have fallen down.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD GALLAGHER

pushed out relative 

to the wall base, 

rotating the wall.

Top of racked wall 

has moved relative 

to the wall base, 

distorting and 

cracking the wall.

Top of leaning wall is 

Wall racking (deformed in its plane) and leaning 

(out-of-plane) due to earthquake loading.

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 Respond 69 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Sewer Lines 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for damage to sewer lines. This would most likely 

be seen in the crawlspace or basement (where exists), at 

a clean-out immediately outside the home, or by smell. 

Significant leakage of damaged sewer lines can lead to

health hazards. 

If Occurs: 

Refrain from putting kitchen, toilet, shower, and bath 

waste water into the drains and sewer system until sewer 

damage can be repaired. 

Glass 

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for broken glass on the ground or still in place in 

door and window frames. 

If Occurs: 

Clean up already fallen glass, cover with plywood or 

similar panel or barricade (with furniture or similar) 

around area with glass remaining in window or door 

frame until it can be safely removed and replaced. Care 

should be taken to avoid injury while removing broken 

glass, and particularly glass that might still be hanging 

in the window or door opening but could fall during 

clean up. When glass panels have cracked but otherwise 

remain in place, they are often best left in place and 

covered with plywood or cardboard until replacement 

glass is available for installation. 

70 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Water Heaters 

 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for damage to the water heater, including broken 

gas and water supply lines, breaks or anchor failures at 

existing straps, fractures to the tank, water leakage, and 

dislodging of vent pipes. 

If Occurs: 

Shut off gas and water lines immediately. If the water 

heater is electric, shut off power. If the tank is fractured 

and leaking, steps should be taken to drain water and 

dry wet areas as soon as possible because water retained 

inside of wall and floor cavities can lead to mold damage.

Drained water can be saved for later use if it is clean and 

practical to save. Information on how to strap your water 

Small Appliances 

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check small appliances for damage due to power surges 

during the earthquake. Look for scorch marks around 

appliances or electrical outlets. Look and smell for signs 

of smoldering or excessive heat. If outside your home, 

you might be able to look in through a window for any 

initial signs of danger before entering your home. 

If Occurs: 

Unplug all small appliances. If there are signs of damage, 

dispose of or repair appliances before using. If there are 

no signs of damage, plug them back in when you have 

time to observe whether each is functioning normally. 

heater can be found on page 28. 

SAFETY CHECK OF WATER HEATER 

Check base and 

side of tank for 

breaks, leakage.

Check water and 

gas lines and flue for

damage, breaks.

 Respond 71 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Furniture and Home Contents 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check for hazards from leaning or toppled furniture, food 

service items, and mixed cleaning chemicals. 

If Occurs: 

Stabilize furniture. Clean up broken glass and chemicals 

using proper tools, ventilation, and protective measures. 

Mixed cleaning products can be dangerous to touch and 

can create fumes that are dangerous to breathe. 

72 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

Wall Damage 

Home Safety Checklist - After an Earthquake

 OK 

 Needs Attention 

 Resolved 

Check interior and exterior wall finish materials, such

as stucco, gypsum board, and plaster, for cracks greater 

than 1/8-inch wide and several feet long. Check for

bulging or buckling finish material, or detachment of

finish material from the walls (finish material moves

when pushed on or gaps between framing and finish

material are detectable). 

If Occurs: 

Request a home safety evaluation (see page 74). Where 

none of the exterior doors are operable, do not occupy 

home until doors are made operable and the home 

safety evaluation has occurred. Where one or more 

doors remain operable, the home can be occupied, but 

damage and required repairs should be evaluated by an 

insurance professional or design professional (architect 

or engineer). This finish material damage is an indicator

that repair of damage may require more than just 

patching and painting. 

Significant cracking of wall finish materials.

PHOTOS OF DAMAGE TO WALL FINISH MATERIALS FROM

ANCHORAGE EARTHQUAKE. COURTESY OF JANISE RODGERS,

AVAILABLE AT WWW.EERI.ORG, LAST ACCESSED 8/3/19

 Respond 73 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

 

Check Neighborhood Safety 

Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and 

disabled. If assistance is needed, draw on neighbors to 

take on specific assigned tasks.

Getting Supplies and Assistance 

Check food and water supplies that you have on hand. 

Identify if you have any urgent food or water needs. If 

electricity is out, use food in your refrigerator and freezer 

first because it will spoil first. If water is not available,

use ice from the freezer and water from the water heater. 

Do not use water from a pool or spa. Do not eat food 

that might have been near breaking glass, as glass shards 

could be in the food. Do not light fires or candles, use

barbeques, or use other electronic equipment until it 

has been determined that there are no gas leaks present. 

Otherwise, a spark could start a fire or explosion.

Monitor local radio or television reports for 

information on emergency assistance, including supplies 

and services. Local fire stations and community centers

will often have emergency supplies available or know 

where emergency assistance can be obtained. 

Home Safety Evaluation 

(by building inspector, engineer, or 

architect) 

If significant damage to your home is suspected, a postearthquake safety evaluation should be made. Some 

jurisdictions may have a program in place and will be 

able to send a qualified evaluator (building inspector or

qualified volunteer engineer or architect) to determine

whether your home is safe to occupy. Otherwise, the 

homeowner may need to hire a professional to perform 

a safety evaluation. It can be difficult, however, to find a

qualified engineer or architect immediately following an

earthquake. If requested by the owner or resident or if 

determined necessary by the local building department, 

Monitor local radio or television reports for information 

on emergency assistance, including supplies and 

services.

qualified evaluators will come to your home to perform

a safety evaluation. The evaluator will first knock on

the door to show photo identification and necessary

paperwork. Next, the evaluator will typically make a 

complete check of the home from the exterior first, and

then if deemed necessary and permitted by the resident, 

conduct an interior check. If there is damage that is of 

concern to you, you can ask the evaluator to look at the 

damage with you. Post-earthquake safety evaluations 

can take as little as fifteen minutes but may take longer,

depending on the size of the home and the amount of 

potential damage that is of concern. The evaluator will 

only look for indications of damage due to the earthquake 

that would make the home unsafe to occupy or would 

require limits on occupancy in portions of the home. The 

condition of the home prior to the earthquake should not 

factor into the evaluation. An evaluation to determine 

the need for and extent of repairs is done by others, as 

discussed in the Recover and Repair section. 

74 Respond 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

At the conclusion of the safety evaluation, the 

evaluator will fill out a form for the building department

and fill out a placard that will be posted at the entrances

to your home. A green placard will indicate that there are 

no limits on the occupancy or use of the home. A yellow 

placard will indicate limitations on use. This may specify 

a limited period of time for residents to remove their 

belongings, beyond which the home may not be occupied. 

A yellow placard may, alternately, indicate a portion 

of the home that is not safe to occupy (such as in the 

immediate vicinity of a damaged chimney), while the rest 

of the home can be occupied. A red placard indicates that 

the entire home is thought to be a potential hazard to life 

and cannot be entered or occupied until knowledgeable 

design professionals are able to further evaluate the 

conditions and determine required stabilization methods 

to allow retrieval of possessions or required repairs. If 

a red placard is assigned, you will be asked to leave the 

building immediately. One placard type (green, yellow, 

or red) is assigned for the entire building. If the building 

includes multiple units that are posted, all units may be 

affected in the same way. 

The safety evaluator will explain to persons on site at 

the time of the evaluation what placard is being posted, 

the reasons, and the limits on use being imposed. The 

evaluator is deputized by the building department, who 

gives them authority to conduct the evaluation and 

post the placard. Only the building department or their 

deputized evaluator has the authority to remove placards 

once posted. 

If a green placard is posted, no further action is 

required. If a yellow or red placard is posted, the owner 

of the home will need to work with design professionals, 

contractors, and the building department to implement 

repair design, permitting, and construction. This is 

discussed further in the Recover and Repair section. The 

safety evaluator does not have any authority to ask about 

or make any reports regarding the home or residents, 

beyond evaluating the earthquake safety of the home. 

Safety Evaluation Placards 

Where safety evaluation programs are available, the 

evaluator will post a placard similar to one of the 

graphics below, indicating whether or not there are 

limitations on continued use of the home.

 Respond 75 

IMAGES COURTESY OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

HTTPS://ATCOUNCIL.ORG/ATC-20
Recover 

and Repair 
Overview 

This chapter addresses earthquake safety at home in the weeks and months 

following a damaging earthquake. Restarting utilities and repair of damage

are discussed.

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Recover and Repair 77 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Recovery in the First Weeks 

After an Earthquake

RESTARTING UTILITIES 

Once damage to utilities has been repaired, take the 

following steps to restart utilities. Consider using the 

checklist in the Respond section as you address damage 

and repair to your home. 

• If your gas was shut off, contact the gas company to 

send an employee to your home to restart your gas and 

relight pilot lights for appliances. The gas company 

will need access to your home interior to do this. 

• If electricity was shut off, turn the main incoming 

power back on first, and then individual breakers

or fuses. This will help avoid a power surge to your 

appliances and equipment. Check appliances and 

electronic equipment for damage, and repair or replace 

damaged items. Plug appliances back in and run them 

when you can observe whether each is functioning 

normally. Unplug if behavior is abnormal. 

• If water was shut off due to water company repairs, the 

water can be turned back on once repairs are made. 

If a water main was broken, the water may need to be 

run for a few minutes until the water is clear of dirt and 

debris. Where water mains have broken, check local 

news media for any requirement that water be boiled 

prior to use. 

• Do not let any person claiming to be an employee of 

a utility company into your home unless they have a 

valid identification card with their photo.

ASSISTANCE 

Persons having earthquake insurance should contact 

their insurance company as soon as they are able. 

Both homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies 

are available, as discussed in the Protect section. Type 

and level of coverage varies and should be discussed 

with insurance industry professionals. Persons having 

earthquake insurance will want to understand the 

particulars of their coverage and requirements for 

documenting damage and expenses. 

Whether or not you have earthquake insurance, 

contact local assistance centers to find out about

resources that might be available to help with the cost 

of extra living expenses and repairs. See the Paying for 

Repairs section on page 83. 

GENERAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING 

An earthquake and its aftermath can be both physically 

and emotionally overwhelming. Talk with your family 

about how they are feeling. Children and older adults are 

of special concern in the aftermath of disasters. Contact 

local volunteer agencies, professionals, or faith-based 

organizations for counseling. See also Helping Children 

Cope with Disaster (FEMA 478). 

NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY 

ORGANIZATIONS 

Reach out to neighborhood or community organizations 

and get involved. Your voice is important in deciding 

how your community will recover and rebuild in the 

years to come. 

Repair of Earthquake Damage 

When earthquake damage occurs to your home, there are 

a number of important issues to be aware of regarding 

repair of damage. Discussion of these issues follows. 

Repair 

Where repair to your home will be required, there are 

a number of considerations, including building code 

requirements, working with contractors, architects, and 

engineers, paying for the repairs, and opportunities 

to build back better. This section provides important 

information regarding these considerations.

78 Recover and Repair Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
 

REGULATIONS REGARDING REPAIR 

Any repair that goes beyond typical maintenance 

activities, such as painting or glass replacement, is 

regulated by building codes adopted and enforced by 

the local building department, and a building permit is 

required. 

In order to determine applicable regulations, you 

will need to know which building department has 

jurisdiction over your home. If you are within a city, it 

should be the local city building department. If you are 

in an unincorporated area, it is likely the county building 

department. In some instances there can be other state 

or federal agencies that have jurisdiction. The local city 

or county building department will be able to tell you 

whether or not you fall under their jurisdiction, and if 

not, whom you should contact. 

BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS 

(REPAIR OR TRIGGERING OF RETROFIT) 

Many cities and counties adopt building and residential 

codes that regulate construction, additions, alterations, 

and repairs. Repairs to earthquake damaged homes 

will be regulated by these adopted codes. In general, 

these codes will permit repair of the home to the preearthquake condition. In some instances, however, 

if the damage was beyond a certain threshold, work 

exceeding repair, including retrofitting or strengthening

of earthquake-vulnerable portions of the home, could be 

required at the time of repair. It is important to check 

with the local building department or an architect or 

engineer familiar with local codes to determine whether 

any work beyond repair to the pre-earthquake condition 

is required. Where additional work is required, the 

building department should be able to identify specific

details of applicable requirements in the local building 

code or adopted ordinances. 

Building department regulations are in place to 

protect the safety of the residents of the home and the 

community. Following building department regulations 

will help to make sure that potential safety hazards are 

addressed and that the home is not left more vulnerable 

to damage in future earthquakes. 

In areas that do not adopt a building code, it is 

recommended that a design professional (engineer or 

architect) be hired to assess damage and design repairs 

in accordance with the latest available model code 

provisions. 

BUILDING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS 

Required repairs will need to be documented in repair 

plans, which are submitted to the building department 

along with a building permit application form. The 

building department then reviews the submitted plans 

and either approves them or requests modification

and resubmittal. Once approved, the permit remains 

open (active) until work is complete and any required 

inspections of work by the building department have 

been successfully completed. At the end of repair work, 

the permit will need to be appropriately closed out with 

the building department. The owner will want to keep 

all records of the permit and the successful closing 

of the permit for future record. Building permits for 

Building Permits 

A building permit will need to be obtained for any 

repair work beyond painting and similar maintenance 

activities.

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Recover and Repair 79 
 

homes are generally obtained by the contractor who is 

performing the work. In most instances, the homeowner 

is also permitted to serve as contractor and obtain 

permits for their own home. This is intended to occur 

when the work is performed by the homeowner or 

under their direction, and should only occur when the 

homeowner is knowledgeable enough regarding home 

construction to judge the adequacy and completeness of 

the work. This is because responsibility for the adequacy 

and completeness of the work is transferred to the 

homeowner who has obtained the permit. 

Simpler repair work, such as replacing wall finishes,

can often be undertaken with just a sketched plan of the 

building and description of work required, as might be 

generated by an insurance adjuster or contractor. More 

complex repair work will generally require involvement 

of an architect or engineer, who will develop plans 

detailing the type and extent of repair work. 

BUILDING DEPARTMENT INSPECTIONS 

During the course of the repair work, it should be 

anticipated that an inspector from the building 

department will make one or more visits to inspect 

the in-progress or completed work. The number of 

inspection visits will depend on the type and extent of 

repair work required. Inspections provide an important 

quality control step, intended to help protect the safety 

of the occupants and the interests of the city or county 

in having safe buildings. If work is not conforming to 

approved repair plans or some aspect of the building or 

residential codes, the building department will issue a 

correction notice, and corrections will have to be made 

before the work can progress. Scheduling of building 

department inspections and providing access to the 

inspector is generally handled by the contractor. 

One available guideline for 

assessment is: 

Earthquake Damage Assessment and Repair 

Guidelines for Residential Wood-Frame Buildings, 

Volume 1 – General, CEA-EDA-01 (ATC-143).

https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/

CONTRACTOR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS 

In most areas, contractors hired to make repairs are 

required to be licensed by the state in which the home 

is located. Contractor licenses can take months to 

years to obtain and involve exams and demonstration 

of applicable work experience. A contractor will need 

to have already obtained their license prior to offering 

services. See further discussion in the section, Working 

with Contractors. 

Contractors may also be required to have city or 

county business licenses, permitting them to provide 

services within the city or county. These can often be 

obtained within days, but should be obtained prior to 

start of work. 

ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT LICENSE 

REQUIREMENTS 

Engineers and architects hired to make assessments and 

develop repair or retrofit plans are similarly required

to be licensed (or registered) by the state in which the 

home is located. See further discussion in Working with 

Design Professionals on page 83. These licenses often 

take years to obtain, and should be in place prior to 

offering services. Engineers and architects may similarly 

be required to have city or county business licenses, 

permitting them to provide services within the city or 

county. 

DEMAND SURGE 

A surge of demand for contractors, engineers, and 

architects following an earthquake or similar event 

is extremely common. This should not be a reason to 

work with individuals that are unqualified or businesses

that are not properly licensed and have not been 

properly vetted. Demand surge makes follow through 

on verification of qualifications even more important.

Always be sure to check that they are licensed, insured, 

and bonded, ensure appropriate references, and never 

pay for work that has not been completed, with the 

exception of some contractors that may require a small 

initial payment to secure materials and resources for 

80 Recover and Repair Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
 

 

 

 

the project (see Paying Contractors on page 82 for more 

information). 

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT 

Prior to development of repair plans or obtaining of 

permits, it is necessary for the extent of repair to be 

determined. In order to establish the extent of repair, an 

assessment of the damage will need to be made. Who 

makes this assessment is in part a function of whether 

there is insurance that will cover repair of the damage. If 

there is insurance coverage, the insurance company will 

assign an insurance adjuster who will assess the damage 

and determine the required repairs (see Paying for 

Repairs on page 83 for discussion of insurance coverage). 

Depending on the extent of damage, the insurance 

adjuster might also involve an engineer 

or architect. 

Where there is no earthquake insurance coverage, the 

owner will need to hire a contractor, engineer, or architect 

to determine the extent of repair. The contractor, 

engineer, or architect will then make on-site assessments 

and develop recommendations for repair. This is 

typically followed by the same consultant developing 

repair plans to document the extent and details of repair. 

Depending on the observable damage, the extent of the 

assessment can vary widely. In some cases, it might 

be necessary to remove damaged finish materials to

determine if there is concealed damage beneath. 

One available resource for conducting an assessment 

is: CEA-EDA-01, Earthquake Damage Assessment and Repair 

Guidelines for Residential Wood-Frame Buildings. This 

document is primarily written for and used by insurance 

adjusters, and includes information that might be of help 

to interested homeowners. It provides a step-by-step 

guidance on where to look and what to look for when 

there are signs of potential hidden damage, and when it 

would be appropriate to hire an engineer or architect. 

WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS 

When making home repairs, finding a good contractor

and conducting business with them in a structured 

and professional manner is important to a successful 

outcome. As with any other major undertaking or 

investment, some research and planning in advance 

will be beneficial in helping the work be satisfactorily

completed. There are a number of available guide 

documents for finding, hiring, and interacting with

contractors. One such guide from the Federal Trade 

Commission is noted below. Similar guidelines are 

available from state contractor’s licensing organizations 

and many local building departments. Use of one or 

more of these guidelines is highly recommended. This 

section provides discussion of some highlights. 

What you should know before hiring a 

general contractor 

See publication: 

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiringcontractor 

CONTRACTOR SELECTION AND VETTING 

Key to a successful outcome is finding the right

contractor. Homeowners should interview and get 

proposals from several contractors in order to get 

multiple opinions on the cost and duration of repair 

work. Best sources of recommendations for contractors 

are neighbors, co-workers, and friends who can relate 

their experiences with contractors that are working 

in your area. There are many questions to ask when 

interviewing a contractor. A few include: 

» Contractor’s license number (see Contractor Licensing 

on page 82) 

» Prior experience in repairing damage, especially 

earthquake damage, or retrofitting homes

» Names and contact information of references that 

you can contact 

» Insurance coverage (general liability, workman’s 

compensation, bond number, and certification)

» Availability and lead time to start work 

» Estimate of time required to complete work 

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Recover and Repair 81 
 

 

 

 

CONTRACTOR LICENSING 

In most states, contractors hired to make repairs or 

retrofits are required to be licensed by the state in which

the home is located. Contractors offering services should 

be asked to provide their license number. Prior to hiring 

a contractor, the homeowner should contact the state 

contractors’ license board to verify that the license is 

active, and determine if there are complaints filed against

the contractor, in which case additional scrutiny would 

be appropriate. In most cases, this information can be 

accessed online or by phone. 

ESTABLISHING A WRITTEN CONTRACT 

Like any other major transaction, a written contract is a 

very important document for recording the agreement 

between the homeowner and the contractor. It is 

important that the contract provide a reasonably detailed 

description of the work scope to be completed. When 

repair plans or descriptions have been developed, 

these should be referenced in the contract to describe 

the scope of work. Also included should be the cost of 

work and schedule of payment. If specific construction

schedules have been agreed to, this can also be included. 

Hiring a Contractor 

A contractor offering to provide services should be able 

to provide the firm’s contractor’s license number. You 

should be able to confirm that the license is valid and 

current online or by phone.

PAYING CONTRACTORS 

Many contractors will ask for a small initial payment 

or down payment at or just before the start of work. 

Some states set a maximum amount of down payment 

that the contractor can request prior to start of work. It 

is particularly important to limit the amount of down 

payment following an earthquake or similar event, 

since homeowners have been taken advantage of in past 

events. After the initial payment, it is most common 

for the contractor to be paid for work completed. This 

involves a review of work completed, followed by 

invoicing on a bi-weekly or monthly schedule or by 

phase of work completed. The homeowner should verify 

to the best of their ability that the work invoiced by the 

contractor has been completed, and should not pay out 

ahead of work that can be verified. On occasion in the

aftermath of an earthquake or other event, contractors 

may take advantage of the situation by asking for more 

money prior to start, or ahead of completed work. It is 

not recommended that the homeowner pay ahead of 

work, because any money paid ahead is potentially at risk 

of being lost. 

It is customary for the homeowner to hold off on a 

final payment (often around 10% of the contract amount)

until they can verify the work is complete, the building 

permit is closed out, and they have created a punch list 

of any details needing completion and the contractor has 

addressed all items. The amount of the down payment 

should be reflected in the contract.

Paying California Contractors 

In California, the Contractor’s State License Board 

warns that it is illegal for a contractor to request 

a down payment of more than 10% or $1,000 

(whichever is lower) of the contract amount.

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WORKING WITH DESIGN PROFESSIONALS 

When the scope extends beyond repair or replacement 

of finish materials (such as stucco, gypsum board,

and plaster), it may become necessary to involve an 

engineer or an architect. The engineer or architect 

would generally conduct an assessment of the extent 

of required repairs or retrofits and develop plans that

can be used to obtain bids from contractors and be 

submitted to the building department to obtain the 

permit. The contractor will use the plans developed by 

the engineer or architect to estimate cost and duration 

of work. The engineer or architect will also perform 

periodic observations during the construction of repairs 

or retrofits. These observations are used to make sure

that work is being constructed in general conformance 

with the repair or retrofit plans, and to help make any

required adjustments to the plans based on conditions 

observed. 

All of the recommendations and cautions discussed 

with respect to hiring contractors apply equally to 

engineers and architects, and many of the same 

questions should be asked and information obtained. 

It is preferable that the engineer or architect proposing 

to do the work has knowledge of residential construction 

and repair of damaged homes. Interviewing several 

engineers or architects before choosing a person or 

firm to work with is important, as is developing a

written contract. 

PAYING FOR REPAIRS 

Where the homeowner has earthquake insurance, 

the insurance company is the primary resource for 

paying for repairs. Most homeowners’ insurance 

sold in the United States does not include earthquake 

damage. Earthquake insurance is typically purchased 

as a separate add-on to basic homeowners’ insurance 

policy. It is always safest, however, to confirm with your

insurance agent or broker whether there is applicable 

insurance coverage. 

Where insurance coverage is in place for the home, 

the insurance company will generally take the lead in 

Hiring an Architectural 

or Engineering Firm 

An architectural or engineering firm offering to provide 

services should be able to provide the license or 

registration number of the architect or engineer having 

oversight of the work. You should be able to confirm 

that the license is valid and current online or by phone. 

If you are not working directly with the person whose 

name appears on the registration, you are encouraged 

to contact them by phone to ensure that they are 

knowledgeable regarding the services being provided.

the assessment of damage and determining extent and 

estimated cost of repair. Most insurance policies include 

some level of deductible that the homeowner will be 

responsible for. Insurance payments are often based 

on the percentage of the repair or reconstruction work 

completed, allowing the owner to absorb the cost of the 

deductible over the course of repairs rather than up 

front. Like any other business transaction, information 

provided by the insurance company and their 

representatives should be reviewed by the homeowner 

for accuracy and corrected if necessary. 

Whether or not you have earthquake insurance, local 

assistance centers may have resources to help with the 

cost of repairs, including United States Small Business 

Administration (SBA) loans and low interest disaster 

loans. 

 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Recover and Repair 83 
 

BUILDING BACK BETTER 

When a damaged home is being repaired, this can 

provide an opportunity to voluntarily build back better 

and stronger. This might include repairing to a recent 

building code instead of repairing the home to its 

pre-earthquake condition. This might also include 

implementing one or more of the retrofit measures

discussed in the Protect section, which are believed to 

provide cost effective strengthening. Although the cost 

of voluntarily building back better is generally borne 

by the owner, loans or grants might be available for this 

mitigation activity. Examples include SBA Mitigation 

Loans that can be obtained by home or business owners 

that have SBA loans for damage repair and FEMA Hazard 

Mitigation Grants that state or local governments can 

apply for. 

COMPLETION OF REPAIRS AND RETROFITS AND 

RETAINING RECORDS 

When repair or retrofit permits have been obtained,

it is very important that the work be completed to the 

satisfaction of the building department and the building 

permit is closed out. If the permit is not properly closed 

out, it will provide an obstacle for obtaining future 

permits and sale of the home. The more time goes by, 

the more complicated and expensive it can become to 

close out an open permit. When needed for legitimate 

reasons, extensions to the building permit duration can 

be obtained. 

It is recommended that all records regarding damage 

assessment and repair or retrofit be retained by the

homeowner for future reference. Most important are 

permit records, plans, the contract with the contractor 

performing the repairs and retrofits, and contracts with

architects and engineers if applicable. This information 

is useful if questions arise from the building department, 

for reference if future work is planned for the home, 

and to provide to a future owner upon sale. It provides 

documentation that work done was conducted in 

accordance with the applicable building department 

regulations. 

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Supplement:

Earthquakes

Across 

America 

In this section you will learn about plate tectonics 

of the seismic regions throughout the United States. 

The section covers the following: Subduction zone 

(Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Puerto Rico), transform

boundary (California, Rocky Mountains), intraplate 

earthquakes (New Madrid, South Carolina), Eastern 

United States (Oklahoma), and Hawaii. You can also 

use the map on page 7 to navigate to your region of 

the country. 

SUBDUCTION ZONE 

What happens when two plates “converge” (run into each 

other) depends on whether the boundary is at a continent 

or an ocean. The ocean floor created at the mid-ocean

ridges is made from dense rock from the mantle of the 

earth, and it is heavier than the rocks in continents. 

This is why ocean floor is at a lower elevation than the

continents. When an ocean floor runs into a continent,

the heavier ocean floor gets pushed under the lighter

continent and goes back down into the mantle. If two 

ocean floors run into each other, one will go under the

other in an oceanic subduction zone, usually creating 

some islands in the top plate. If two continents run into 

each other, they are both too light to go down, so they 

go up – creating tall mountains such as the Himalayas 

or the Alps. 

Earthquakes on subduction zones create tsunamis. 

They are usually underwater so the movement on the 

fault shifts the seafloor, displacing the water above the

fault, creating the tsunami. Subduction zones also make 

the largest earthquakes. The largest earthquake ever 

recorded, a magnitude 9.5 in Chile in 1960, was on a 

section of a subduction zone more than 800 miles long. 

The second largest was in Alaska. 

86 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Fairbanks

Anchorage

Juneau

EARTHQUAKES IN ALASKA

Valdez

ALASKA—AMERICA’S LARGEST EARTHQUAKE 

March 27, 1964 was Good Friday. Schools in Anchorage 

were closed that day, and many businesses closed early 

as people attended church services and prepared for 

the holiday weekend. The population of Alaska had just 

reached a quarter million people, and over half lived in 

the Anchorage area. At 5:36 PM, the lives of all these 

people were changed forever. An earthquake began 

at an epicenter about 80 miles east of Anchorage. The 

earthquake grew from its epicenter to include a fault 

over 500 miles long, and became the largest earthquake 

ever recorded in the United States – a magnitude-9.2 

earthquake! 

At first, the shaking in Anchorage was not very

strong, especially for people in Alaska who are used 

to earthquakes. But the shaking did not stop. As the 

rupture grew from its epicenter, a “rupture front” passed 

down the fault. In all earthquakes, the rupture front 

travels at about 2 miles per second, so larger earthquakes 

on longer faults last a longer time. This particular 

earthquake, sometimes known as the Great Alaskan 

Earthquake, lasted for almost 5 minutes. 

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

The fault that produced this earthquake is the 

Aleutian subduction zone. The seafloor under the Pacific

Ocean is sliding to the northwest and sinking down under 

Alaska. As it sinks down, it pulls down the ocean floor

and creates a trench. The deep trenches of the oceans 

are all there because of subduction zones. 

Just because it was the largest American earthquake 

does not mean the Good Friday Earthquake produced 

the strongest shaking in America. The fault in the Great 

Alaskan Earthquake was located offshore, a long way 

away from Anchorage. The intensity of the shaking 

had died off as the waves traveled through the earth, so 

the shaking in Anchorage was not nearly as strong as 

in some other earthquakes. The coastal towns such as 

Valdez experienced stronger shaking, but even there, 

the maximum acceleration of the ground (one way to 

measure shaking) was less than that recorded in some 

Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 87 
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The Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage, Alaska. Seventy-five homes twisted, slumped, or collapsed

when liquefaction of subsoils caused parts of the suburban bluff to move as much as 2,000 feet downward

toward the bay, forming a complex system of ridges and depressions. The slide developed because of a loss

in strength of the soils, particularly of lenses of sand, that underlay the slide.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAA NATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL DATA CENTER

Californian earthquakes where the faults are closer to 

where people live. 

The shaking from the earthquake caused widespread 

damage along the coast of Alaska. Even more damage 

was caused indirectly, by the ground losing its ability 

to hold up buildings through liquefaction. This 

phenomenon was responsible for widespread slumping 

and landslides across Anchorage. See image above. 

Having the fault offshore meant that the shaking 

in Anchorage was less than it would have been from a 

nearby fault. It also meant that the earthquake created 

a tsunami. The fault was over 500 miles long, about 50 

miles wide and that stretch of ocean floor moved over 60

feet. The water displaced by this fault caused a tsunami. 

Because the part of the subduction zone that moved 

in 1964 points toward the North American continent, 

the worst damage in 1964 was along the West Coast. In 

Northern California, at Crescent City, the tsunami was 21 

feet high and 10 people were killed. Even farther away, in 

Los Angeles, one person died after being swept away, and 

the Port of Los Angeles sustained significant damage.

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PACIFIC NORTHWEST—THE HIDDEN EARTHQUAKE 

Alaska is not the only subduction zone in the United 

States. A somewhat smaller one, “only” 650 miles long, 

lies off the Pacific Northwest from Cape Mendocino

in Northern California to Vancouver Island in British 

Columbia: the Cascadia subduction zone. Unlike most 

other subduction zones, which have a large number of 

earthquakes all the time, the Pacific Northwest has been

relatively quiet. 

Researchers have uncovered information that prove 

that the Pacific Northwest has had very big earthquakes

and will again. First, a United States Geological Survey 

(USGS) seismologist showed that the lack of smaller 

earthquakes over the last hundred years did not have 

to be a sign that big ones were impossible and that, in 

fact, the seismological characteristics of the Cascadia 

zone were most similar to Chile—the source of the largest 

earthquakes in the world. Next, another USGS geologist 

realized that if this was right, there had to be geologic 

evidence of past big earthquakes. Several locations 

along the Pacific Northwest coast have “ghost forests,”

– groves of dead red cedar trees that had died but were

still standing. He showed that these forests could be

explained by the lowering of the ground elevation that

happens in subduction zone earthquakes. The ground

level of the forest was lowered to the point that salt water

penetrated into the soil, which killed the roots but left the

forest still standing. By studying tree rings, he also found

that many of the ghost forests were formed in the winter

of 1700.

The third piece of evidence came from Japan. A 

Japanese seismologist studied the records of an “orphan 

tsunami”—a tsunami that hit the Japanese coast without 

records of a Japanese earthquake—that had occurred on 

January 27, 1700. He showed that the patterns of wave 

heights could not be matched with any known tsunami 

from South America or Alaska, but fit what would be

expected from a very large earthquake on the Cascadia 

subduction zone. 

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

Portland

Boise

Reno

Seattle

EARTHQUAKES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Ghost forest in Washington State.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN ATWATER, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 89 
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

 

 

 

 

 

Putting all these pieces of the puzzle together, we 

see that there must have been a very large earthquake 

at the Cascadia subduction zone on January 26, 1700. 

Because the ghost forests show up in so many places on 

the coast (remember the length of the fault controls the 

magnitude), it must have been around a magnitude 9.0. 

Any place that has had a big earthquake can have 

one again—the fault is still there and the plates are still 

moving. The rate at which the plates are coming together 

in the Pacific Northwest means that earthquakes the size

of the 1700 earthquake should happen about once every 

500 years. Cores taken from the seafloor off the Oregon

coast show evidence of big earthquakes occurring about 

every 250 years. To have this many earthquakes means 

some of them have to be smaller than the magnitude 9.0 

that occurred in 1700. 

Even though the Cascadia subduction zone can 

produce larger earthquakes (around magnitude 9.0) 

compared to California (around magnitude 8.0), the 

losses suffered will probably still be greater in California. 

That is because magnitude alone does not reveal what 

the shaking or the damage will be. Magnitude only tells 

how long the fault is and therefore how large an area will 

be subjected to strong shaking. However, if much of that 

area is under the ocean, no one is there to get hurt. 

The Pacific Northwest also has smaller, slower

moving faults in the rocks that are beneath people. The 

1965 Puget Sound and 2001 Nisqually Earthquakes 

both happened in the rocks beneath greater Seattle. 

For example, the Seattle Fault and the Portland Hills 

Fault run through the cities of Seattle and Portland, 

respectively. These faults produce earthquakes much 

less frequently than the Cascadia Fault and will affect a 

much smaller area. But the damage near one of these 

faults could be greater in a local earthquake than in the 

Cascadia Earthquake. 

San Juan

EARTHQUAKES IN PUERTO RICO 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

PUERTO RICO—THE IGNORED SUBDUCTION ZONE 

The third American subduction zone is an oceanic 

subduction zone – formed when two oceanic plates 

collide. The American territory of Puerto Rico is on the 

boundary between the North American and Caribbean 

Plates and has a very high rate of earthquakes. The 

Caribbean Ocean is one of the more complex plate 

tectonic settings with the North America, Caribbean 

South American, Nazca, Cocos, and two microplates 

(Panama and North Andes) interacting around the edges 

of the Caribbean Plate. The islands of the Caribbean 

are formed as the North American Plate goes under the 

Caribbean Plate. 

One of the defining features of a subduction zone

is the presence of deep earthquakes. In most parts of 

the world, the rocks get so hot only a few tens of miles 

into the earth that earthquakes are not possible. But in 

a subduction zone, cold rock is being pushed into the 

earth, so the rocks stay brittle deeper in the earth. 

In the Caribbean, some earthquakes can be more than 

100 miles deep. These earthquakes rarely cause damage, 

not because they produce different types of shaking, 

but because everyone is at least 100 miles away from 

100-mile deep earthquakes. Others, like the series of

earthquakes in 2020 in southwestern Puerto Rico, are

shallow which puts people nearer the earthquakes and

increases the shaking.

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TRANSFORM BOUNDARY 

The Pacific Northwest has a subduction zone because

a small plate called the Juan de Fuca Plate is being 

created by a mid ocean ridge just offshore. Coming 

south into California, the Juan de Fuca Plate disappears 

at Cape Mendocino. South of there, the North American 

and Pacific Plates are sliding past each other, not

colliding, forming a “transform boundary.” Most of this 

motion happens on the San Andreas Fault system, but 

it is not a perfect fit. A bit of North America is getting

dragged along with the North American Plate, leading 

to stretching of an extended boundary through Nevada, 

Idaho, and Utah. 

CALIFORNIA—WHERE THE LOSSES ARE 

In California, two plates at the plate boundary are moving 

past each other, and the faults that are producing this 

motion are mostly on land. The San Andreas Fault 

system carries most of the plate motion and therefore has 

earthquakes the most often. But in fact, there are many 

more faults with a total of 225 faults in California in the 

national active fault database maintained by the USGS. 

More than 90% of these faults are on land and right

underneath people’s homes. Because it has so many 

fault lines with so many people, California is expected 

to have more earthquake losses than any other state. In 

comparison, Alaska has more earthquakes, but there are 

fewer people and fewer structures to be damaged. 

Even though the San Andreas Fault is responsible for 

over half of the total movement, it produces much less 

than half of the earthquakes in the state. The last big San 

Andreas earthquake was in 1906 with an epicenter near 

San Francisco. The part of the fault that broke extended 

from 80 miles south of San Francisco to Cape Mendocino, 

a distance of about 270 miles running just offshore of 

the city. It killed several thousand people (records from 

the time are not complete and the total death toll is still 

debated), triggered fires that burned most of the city of

San Francisco, and set back the economy for decades. 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

Sacramento

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Las Vegas

EARTHQUAKES IN CALIFORNIA

The USGS created a detailed scenario to understand 

what a future, large San Andreas earthquake would do to 

California. They chose a section of the fault in Southern 

California that has not moved in 330 years, even though 

its average time between earthquakes is approximately 

150 years, making it one of the most likely to produce a 

big earthquake in the near future. Called the ShakeOut 

scenario, it shows that our investment in building codes 

that try to keep the buildings from killing people has 

paid off, and most of the life loss will be limited to older 

buildings that do not meet modern codes. The chance 

of dying in an earthquake, even in California, is much 

 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 91 
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smaller than the chance of dying in a car accident. Still, 

the economic losses could be staggering. Estimates for 

losses in Southern California alone are $213 billion, but 

the impact would be even more extensive. For instance, 

the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach bring in about 

40% of the total imports to the United States. They are

far enough away from the San Andreas Fault that they 

may not suffer significant damage, but the highways and

railroads that transport cargo to the rest of the United 

States all cross the San Andreas Fault and will be broken 

in the earthquake. California’s economy represents about 

1/8 of the United States economy and the majority of 

that economic activity is in the area that will be affected 

by this one earthquake. The impact will be felt across 

the country. 

This is an important fact for us to remember about 

potentially catastrophic natural hazards. An event is 

a disaster when it destroys your house. It becomes a 

catastrophe when so many people are affected that the 

regional or even national economy is damaged. Modern 

society has become much more interconnected and we 

all have a stake in reducing losses from natural disasters 

anywhere in the county. 

Although geologists consider the San Andreas Fault 

system as the boundary between the North American 

and Pacific Plates, it only accounts for two-thirds of the

motion between the two plates. That means that onethird of that motion is happening on other faults. Some, 

like the San Jacinto Fault in Southern California and the 

Hayward Fault in Northern California, are parallel to the 

San Andreas and run close to the main fault and are often 

called the “San Andreas System.” There are hundreds 

of other faults, because in the rocky crust, one piece will 

snag on another and break at weak points. The complete 

plate boundary (the area over which all the relative 

motion is distributed) actually extends all the way out 

to Utah. 

Photo of San Francisco fires following the 1906 Earthquake.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART,

LAST ACCESSED 9/25/19

The earthquakes that occur on these faults are 

much smaller than the plate boundary earthquakes 

but still pose a large risk because many of the faults are 

near people. The 1994 Northridge (Los Angeles) and 

2000 Nisqually (Seattle) Earthquakes are examples of 

“smaller” earthquakes—they were magnitude 6.7 and 

6.8—that could do a lot of damage due to their proximity 

to large populations. The area of worst shaking in 

Northridge was as intense as the worst shaking in the 

1906 San Francisco Earthquake but it did not last as long. 

Northridge lasted for only 7 seconds, while 1906 lasted 

for 100 seconds. 

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THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS—THE SORT-OF PLATE 

BOUNDARY 

The plate boundary extends through Nevada and Idaho 

into Utah. Extends is the right word here for another 

reason. The area between the Sierra Nevada in Eastern 

California and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah is literally 

extending, slowly being stretched out as California 

holds on to the Pacific Plate and gets dragged slightly

northwestward. 

The total movement over Nevada and Utah is less than 

20% of the movement that happens on the San Andreas

system, so the faults in this area do not have as many 

earthquakes as in California. However, even this small 

fraction of movement can be quite damaging. The most 

recent major earthquake in this region (and largest ever 

recorded in Idaho) was the magnitude-6.9 Borah Peak 

Earthquake in 1983. This earthquake pushed up Borah 

Peak and made it about 6 feet taller than it had been 

before the earthquake. 

The photographs below and the following page show 

how the fault broke to the surface of the earth along a 

20-mile stretch, pushing the mountain up and dropping

the valley down. This earthquake is notable because it is

one of the few cases where we have eye witness accounts

of the fault breaking. A couple were out camping and

saw the fault scarp form, moving up 15 feet within a few

seconds. They described it like a zipper opening, which

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

Albuquerque

Denver

Salt Lake City

Butte

Boise

Las Vegas

Phoenix

EARTHQUAKES IN THE ROCKY 

MOUNTAINS REGION

Helena

Borah Peak scarp in 1983.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

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Borah Peak scarp showing how

it extends for miles and pushes

up mountain.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

is consistent with our seismologic records that show 

the rupture front moving down a fault. The earthquake 

also killed 2 people and caused about $12.5 million in 

damage. The damage was mostly to the type of masonry 

building that are no longer built in more seismically 

active states. 

The 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake in Montana was 

also part of this extended plate boundary. Although it 

was larger than the Borah Peak Earthquake, at magnitude 

7.3, it was in a wilderness area near Yellowstone National 

Park, so there was not as much damage. However, 

as often happens with very large earthquakes in 

mountainous areas, it triggered numerous landslides. 

Most of the 28 deaths were caused by rockslides that 

covered the Rock Creek Public Campground on the 

Madison River, about 9.5 kilometers below Hebgen Dam. 

Another huge avalanche of rock, soil, and trees cascaded 

from the south side of the Madison River Canyon and 

blocked the gorge, stopping the flow of the Madison River.

Within a few weeks, a lake over 150 feet deep formed 

behind the slide. 

INTRAPLATE EARTHQUAKES 

Although the plate boundary may be diffuse, it does 

end by the time you get to the Rockies. Geodetic 

measurements show that the eastern part of the 

North American continent is a coherent block without 

much motion between the different parts. The rate 

of earthquakes is also much lower, but it is not zero. 

Earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 and larger have occurred 

in the eastern United States in what we call “intraplate 

earthquakes” — earthquakes that happen within a plate 

where the relative motion is very small. Most of the 

intraplate areas around the world have some low level of 

earthquakes. Most scientists believe these earthquakes 

result from residual stresses and are most likely to occur 

at locations of weakness in the crust. 

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NEW MADRID—ONCE, BUT NO LONGER, THE BIGGEST 

The most famous of the intraplate earthquakes in the 

United States are those near New Madrid, Missouri. Four 

earthquakes large enough to cause substantial damage 

happened between December 1811 and February 1812, 

and thousands of smaller earthquakes were felt as well. 

These earthquakes did widespread damage in that area 

of the Midwest and were felt over much of Eastern United 

States. The largest of the New Madrid Earthquakes was 

reported to have moved furniture in the White House 

and rung church bells in Boston. At one time, these were 

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in

10,000 years.

New Madrid

Little Rock

St Louis

Jackson

New Orleans

Dallas

Wichita

EARTHQUAKES IN THE NEW 

MADRID REGION

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Nashville

thought to be the largest earthquakes ever recorded in 

the United States but we now know that is not the case. 

After the measurement of magnitude was invented 

in the early 20th century, scientists tried to understand 

how big older earthquakes were by looking at the area 

that felt them. Reports of shaking could be gathered 

from newspaper articles and diaries describing what 

people felt and compiled into a map and then compared 

with similar reports for an earthquake with a known 

magnitude. The New Madrid Earthquakes were felt 

over a much larger area than the 1906 San Francisco 

Earthquake which was about magnitude 8.0. Based on 

this information, the largest New Madrid Earthquake was 

estimated to be very large, perhaps as large as magnitude 

8.7. Today, we know that the largest of the New Madrid 

Earthquakes was only magnitude 7.5. How did we get 

such a large number when the earthquakes 

ware actually much smaller? The answer lies in the 

difference between the rocks in the eastern and western 

United States. 

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The rocks in the western United States are often 

quite young (by a geologist’s reckoning—only a few tens 

of millions of years old), relatively warm, and broken up 

by many faults. In contrast, the rocks in the East are old 

(often more than a billion years), cold, and solid. Just as 

a cracked bell cannot ring as loudly as a solid one, the 

seismic energy traveling through the many faults of the 

Western United States dies off more quickly than energy 

traveling through the solid old crust of the East Coast. 

We can see how this works by comparing the 2011 

Virginia Earthquake of magnitude 5.8 to the slightly 

larger 2014 Napa, California Earthquake of magnitude 

6.0. The maximum intensity is slightly higher for the 

magnitude-6.0 California Earthquake, but the Virginia 

Earthquake was felt over a much larger area, all the way 

to Maine. 

The New Madrid region continues to have a higher 

rate of earthquakes than surrounding territory, even 

today. Is this because the risk in New Madrid is higher 

than the rest of the intraplate region? Or are we just 

seeing a very long aftershock sequence to the 1811-1812 

mainshocks? 

96 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 

Epicenter of 2014

magnitude-6.0 Napa

Earthquake.

MAP OF USGS “DID YOU FEEL IT?” 

The dark blue dots are the locations of 

people who felt the 2011 magnitude-5.8

Mineral, Virginia Earthquake while the lighter

blue dots are the locations of people who felt 

the slightly larger 2014 magnitude-6.0 Napa

Earthquake.

Epicenter of 2011

magnitude-5.8

Mineral, Virginia

Earthquake.
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 

 

 

In intraplate regions, if there is only one recorded 

earthquake, then another is not very likely in the near 

future. However, if we can find evidence that multiple

large earthquakes had occurred there in the past, then 

it would be much more likely for a large earthquake to 

occur there again. Here is where geology can help us. 

The intensity of the shaking in 1811 was so prolonged 

that it caused liquefaction, making the sand behave 

temporarily as a liquid or quicksand. When the loose 

soil that liquefies is buried under a denser soil that does

not liquefy, the quicksand cannot flow out of the way.

Instead, it expands until it breaks through the overlying 

soil and spurts into the air like a fountain. It falls back 

to the earth and can be seen as circular sandblows. The 

chance of liquefaction goes up the longer the soil is 

shaken, so sandblows are a good sign that a pretty big 

earthquake has happened. 

By cutting trenches into areas that liquefied in

1812, geologists have found older sandblows that were 

buried by floods. The sediments in the old floods can

be dated, and they show us three previous earthquakes 

large enough to create sandblows that happened around 

1450 A.D., 900 A.D. and 2350 B.C. If four different large 

earthquakes occurred there before, then it is highly 

possible for a fifth to occur. That is why the New Madrid

region is thought to have the highest earthquake hazard 

east of the Rockies. 

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HOW SAND BLOWS FORM 

Silt and Clay Layers

Filled Fissure (sand dike)

Earthquake Waves Liquefied Sand

Sand 

Blow

During earthquake shaking, a subsurface layer of sand will settle,

compressing the spaces between the sand grains. If those spaces

are filled with groundwater, that water becomes compressed and

the pressure in it increases. When the pressure in the water is great

enough, it will force its way to the surface carrying the sand with it.

ADAPTED FROM THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530

SOUTH CAROLINA 

South Carolina is the other intraplate region that has had 

a magnitude-7 earthquake in historic time. The 1886 

Charleston, South Carolina Earthquake was felt across 

the eastern United States, from Chicago to Boston and 

from Louisiana to Cuba. The shaking was so violent that 

rumors sprang up that Florida had broken off from the 

continent. Charleston had only 49,000 residents and yet 

suffered losses exceeding $8 million. Over 80% of the

houses of Charleston were rendered uninhabitable. 

Like New Madrid, the sediments around 

Charleston show that 1886 was not the only large 

earthquake. Geologists estimate 7 events have 

occurred in the last 6,000 years. 

98 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

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10,000 years.

EARTHQUAKES IN 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Nashville

Atlanta

Montgomery

Charleston

Raleigh

Miami
EARTHQUAKES IN 

EASTERN UNITED STATES

Cleveland

New York City

Philadelphia

Richmond

Boston

Charlottesville

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in 

10,000 years. 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Albany

Washington, D.C.

Augusta

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EASTERN UNITED STATES 

Much of the eastern United States has had some historic 

earthquakes. With a very low rate of earthquakes and 

only a few hundred years of history, the eastern United 

States poses a question that cannot be answered with 

absolute certainty. We have a large intraplate region 

with a few number of large earthquakes. Many locations 

have had earthquakes about magnitude 5 or 6 but not 

larger. Are these locations more dangerous than places 

that have only had magnitude-2 earthquakes? The 

National Seismic Hazard Map from the United States 

Geological Survey makes a compromise. They consider 

the previous hot spots to have a higher likelihood for a 

future earthquake to occur, but everywhere else has at 

least a very low possibility. The areas of the map with 

darker colors have had larger earthquakes (magnitude 4 

to 6) in the last several hundred years. An example is the 

area east of Charlottesville, Virginia. There are regular 

small earthquakes in that region, including a magnitude 

4.5 in 2003 and a larger earthquake in the 19th century. 

The largest earthquake ever recorded in Virginia, the 

2011 Mineral, Virginia Earthquake of magnitude 5.8, 

occurred within this long time cluster. Because the 

shaking extended over a large area and that area is 

densely populated, we estimate that more Americans felt 

the Mineral Earthquake than any other earthquake in 

American history. 

Much of the seismicity in the eastern United States is 

around the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachians 

were formed over 400 million years ago when a 

subduction zone formed and then grew even higher as 

continents collided forming the Pangea supercontinent. 

All of those collisions left behind faults and zones of 

weakness that can respond to the slow stresses within the 

current North American Plate. 

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OKLAHOMA—HUMAN-MADE EARTHQUAKES 

The newest type of intraplate earthquake is humanmade. Earthquakes happen when the stress pushing 

sideways on the fault overcomes the friction caused by 

stress pushing the fault together. We have known for a 

long time that the frictional resistance is reduced by the 

pressure of water in the pores of the rock. When the pore 

pressure goes up, the stress needed to start slipping goes 

down, and sometimes an earthquake results. The most 

direct way to increase the pore pressure is by pumping 

fluids into the ground. We have seen a significant

increase in the number of earthquakes in the intraplate 

regions where the extraction of oil and gas is causing 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking

in 10,000 years from natural hazards. The hazard from humanmade earthquakes are not shown because we do not think we will 

continue pumping fluids to cause these earthquakes for 10,000

years.

EARTHQUAKES IN 

OKLAHOMA

Albuquerque Oklahoma City

Denver

Dallas

more pumping of ground fluids to take place, such as in

Texas, Colorado, and Alabama. 

Pumping at shallow depths does not make much 

difference because earthquakes generally do not start 

in the shallow crust. Most types of hydraulic fracturing 

(or “fracking”) are shallow because the oil reservoirs are 

shallow. We see some earthquakes directly from fracking 

but they have been small – the largest have only been 

around magnitude 2 to 3. 

To cause larger earthquakes, we need to change 

the pore pressure at the greater depths where the 

earthquakes begin. The two common reasons why 

fluids are pumped deeper are geothermal energy

production and disposing of wastewater created through 

oil extraction. A magnitude-5.1 earthquake in Imperial 

County of California in 2005 was likely the result of 

geothermal energy production. 

The largest earthquakes we have seen caused by 

pumping have occurred in Oklahoma. Many wells in 

Oklahoma produce large quantities of very saline water 

as well as gas. It is too salty for drinking water, so it is 

reinjected into disposal wells. This has led to a large 

increase in the number of earthquakes, so much so that 

in 2014, Oklahoma recorded more earthquakes than 

California. The rate of pumping has been reduced in 

Oklahoma and that has led to a decrease in the number of 

earthquakes since then. 

Oklahoma is not the only location with human-made 

earthquakes. The United States Geological Survey has 

started creating a companion map for the National 

Seismic Hazard Map to show the risk from these induced 

earthquakes. Unlike the National Map that shows the 

risk for 50 years, the induced seismicity map shows the 

hazard for just the next year. If the pumping patterns 

were to change, so would the rate of earthquakes. 

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EARTHQUAKES IN HAWAII

Honolulu

HAWAII

MAUI

OAHU

KAUAI

Expected number of occurrences of damaging earthquake shaking in 

10,000 years. 

<2 2-4 4-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-250 >250

 

 

 

 

 

HAWAII—THE INTRAPLATE 

“HOT SPOT” 

Hawaii is famous for its volcanoes and the earthquakes 

that often accompany the eruptions, but for a long time, 

geologists wondered how they fit into the plate tectonic

picture. Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean

Plate with no plate boundary for thousands of miles. 

An explanation was found in a theory about “mantle 

plumes.” 

Below the crust of the earth is its mantle. As you go 

deeper in the earth, it gets hotter. It is hot enough in the 

mantle that the rocks soften and part can be molten. 

Mantle plumes are places where the mantle is extra hot. 

Just as hot air rises, so does hot rock. In a few places in 

the world, the plume breaks through the crust, creating 

volcanoes such as those of Hawaii and Yellowstone. 

The different Hawaiian Islands formed as the Pacific

Ocean Plate has passed over the plume. Kauai (in the 

northwest) is the oldest island, and it has been carried 

away from the plume so that it no longer has an active 

volcano or earthquakes. The islands get progressively 

younger toward the southeast, but only Maui has any sign 

of activity in the volcano. Most of the current volcanic 

activity is in the big island of Hawaii, and that is where 

most of the earthquakes are as well. 

Earthquakes in Hawaii fall into two big categories. 

First are the ones that result from the passage of magma 

from the magma chamber to the surface. As the magma 

passes through conduits, it stresses the rock around it 

and sets off tremors that are usually small. They are 

often detectable by humans and can be warning signs 

that the volcano may soon erupt. They are used by 

volcanologists to track the movement of the magma 

and predict the time of the eruption. As the eruptions 

get bigger, so do the earthquakes. A magnitude-6.9 

earthquake was part of the beginning of the big eruption 

that ran through the eastern rift zone of the Big Island 

in 2018. Over 60 earthquakes above magnitude 5.0 

accompanied the collapse of the Kilauea Crater in the 

summer of 2018. 

The second type of earthquake are non-volcanic 

earthquakes due to movement on a fault. Most of the 

faults around Hawaii are caused by slumping along 

the flanks of the volcano. An extraordinary amount of

lava has come out of the Hawaiian volcanoes, creating 

mountains that measure more than 30,000 feet high 

from seafloor to mountaintop. That large amount of

rock carries tremendous weight, and gravity pulls it back 

down. Events like the 1975 magnitude-7.2 Kalapana and 

the 2006 magnitude-6.7 Kiholo Bay Earthquakes resulted 

in the flanks of the volcano sinking deeper underwater.

 Supplement: Earthquakes Across America 101 
Resources

 

 

 

 

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USGS, 2011, Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country -

Your Handbook for the Central United States, General 

Information Product 119, United States Geological Survey,

Reston, Virginia.

<https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip119> 

Respond 

ATC, 2005, Field Manual: Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of 

Buildings, ATC-20-1 Second Edition, Applied Technology

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USGS, 2011, Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country -

Your Handbook for the Central United States, General 

Information Product 119, United States Geological Survey,

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<https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip119> 

FEMA, 2017, Earthquake Safety Checklist, FEMA B-526,

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.

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Recover and Repair 

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for Residential Wood-Frame Buildings, Volume 1 – General,

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FTC, Hiring a Contractor, Federal Trade Commission Consumer

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FEMA, 2004, Helping Children Cope with Disaster, FEMA-478,

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SBA, Disaster Assistance, United States Small Business

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with subduction in the Northwestern United States,” Bulletin 

of the Seismological Society of America, GeoScienceWorld, 1.

USGS, 2011, Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country-Your 

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Product 119, United States Geological Survey,

Reston, Virginia.

<https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip119> 

104 Resources 
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 Earthquake Safety at Home FEMA P-530 
FEMA P-530