Earthquake 

Preparedness 

What Every Child Care Provider Needs to Know 

FEMA 240 / April 2006 
This publication provides an introduction to earthquake safety for child care providers 

based in their homes and those based in larger facilities. 

If you provide child care in a facility such as a school, church, or daycare center, you 

should consult your building’s owner, landlord, building administrator, or school 

administrator about the standards, guidelines, and procedures that are already in place 

for seismic safety. 

Cover photograph by Lloyd Wolf for the U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office (PIO). 
Earthquake Preparedness

What Every Child Care Provider Needs to Know

You can never tell when there will be an earthquake, but you can take steps to reduce or 

avoid damage, injuries, or loss of life for the children in your care, your staff, and yourself. 

Preparing for an earthquake includes things you already do to protect the children’s safety 

and health, such as having a fire extinguisher handy and maintaining your certifications 

for first aid and CPR. With additional planning and preparation, the children in your care 

will have a better chance at surviving an earthquake unharmed. 

What You Can Do Before an Earthquake

Make your building more earthquake-proof, include 

earthquake preparedness in your emergency plans, teach 

children and staff what to do if an earthquake happens, 

and keep emergency supplies on hand. 

In an earthquake, most injuries and deaths are caused by 

loose objects in and on buildings. During the shaking, 

cabinets and bookcases topple, objects fall out of cabinets, 

and hanging or large plants fall. Door frames and window 

jams may be bent when walls move. Doors may slam or 

jam shut, and window glass can shatter, sending broken 

glass into the room. Light fixtures, sprinkler heads, and 

It’s not the Earth’s shaking itself 

that causes the most injury and 

harm. Instead, it’s the things 

that the earthquake puts into 

motion: the shaking of buildings, 

structures, and even ordinary 

household items. Anything that 

can move, fall, break, or cause a 

fire can be an earthquake hazard. 

other ceiling components may pop out and fall. Objects 

mounted on the walls (such as clocks, maps, and art work) may shake loose and fly across the 

room. The electricity may go out, and the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. 

Conduct a “hazard hunt” 

Go through your home or facility, room by room, looking 

for objects or situations that might cause damage or Brackets along injury. Make an inventory of all items that require attention. top or sides 

Walk the halls and classrooms. Stand in the center of each 

room and look all around you: imagine which objects or Interior 

pieces of furniture might fall over or fly through the air. Brackets 

Make your facility more earthquake-proof 

Remove, move, fasten, or latch items that are likely to 

break, fall over, cause a fire, or hurt people. Work with Screws through 

the building’s owner or manager and other building back into wall 

tenants if you rent or share space. If you are housed in a 

school, coordinate with your school administrator. Securing a bookcase to the wall. 

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You or the building’s owner may be able to correct most of these hazards. 

� Bolt down and secure to the wall studs: 

water heater


furnace


gas appliances


refrigerator


� Fasten to wall studs: 

Adhesive-backed 

hook-and-loop material 

Attaching a 

television to a desk. 

Elastic bungee cord 

bookcases attached to top of desk 

shelves


tall cabinets


� Move heavy objects to lower shelves. 

If heavy objects can’t be moved, attach them to the desk or table they are sitting on 

with a heavy-duty hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro. If necessary, add lips to 

shelves to keep items from sliding off. 

� Make sure hallways and exits are clear of objects that might fall and make it difficult


to get out of the building.


� Brace overhead light fixtures.


� Install latches on cabinet doors.


� Move beds and cribs away from windows, and lock their wheels if possible.


� Move heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from sleeping and sitting areas.


� Lock wheels on rolling carts, such as a TV cart.


Have a professional help you with the following: 

� Bolt the building to the foundation if necessary. 

Wood frame buildings that are bolted to the foundation are


less likely to be damaged than those that aren’t. Buildings


built after 1960 typically are secured to their foundations.


(You can call your local building department or county


assessor’s office to find out when your home or facility was


built.)


� Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations.


� Repair or replace defective electrical wiring and leaky 


gas connections.*


� Replace inflexible utility connections with flexible ones.*


* Do not repair gas or electrical lines yourself. 

Know how to shut off electricity, gas, and water 

You may need to turn off the electricity, gas, or water after an 

earthquake because of broken or exposed electrical wiring, a gas 

leak, or flooding from leaking pipes or sprinklers. Locate the gas 

and water “shut-off” valves and master electrical switch. Learn 

how to turn these off and train your staff to do so. Make sure you have a crescent or pipe 

wrench near the gas and water valves and in your emergency supplies. 

On Off 

Off 

On 

Gas Valve 

Water Main 

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Prepare an emergency kit 

After a large earthquake, you may be on your own with the children for two or three days. 

In addition to the safety equipment you already have on hand such as a fire extinguisher, 

you need an emergency kit. This kit should include: 

� Flashlight with extra bulbs and extra batteries 

� Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries 

� First aid kit and manual 

� Roster of children with addresses and their parents’ emergency contact information 

� Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies 

� Emergency food and water 

Water—A supply of bottled water and cups (one gallon per person per day). Store water


in sealed, unbreakable containers (for example, plastic). Identify the storage date and


replace every three to six months. Include purification tablets or chlorine bleach in your


kit to purify drinking water from other sources.


Food—A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food. 

�Waterproof plastic bags (for protection from rain, ground cloths, removal of waste, etc.) 

� Nonelectric can opener 

� Essential medicines and medical supplies 

� Diapers and wipes 

� Blankets 

�Work gloves 

� Sturdy boots or shoes 

Other items in the emergency kit might include: 

� Paper and pens 

� Permanent marker 

� Games and toys 

� Hard candy 

Have a communication plan for disasters and keep parents informed 

Parents need to know what you plan to do in an earthquake or any other type of emergency. 

Develop a plan for reuniting families after an earthquake or any other disaster. Maintain upto-date rosters of students with contact information for parents and emergency contacts. 

Encourage parents to identify an out-of-state contact for large-scale emergencies like an 

earthquake. After an earthquake, it may be easier to make out-of-state and long-distance calls 

as in-state and local calls may be blocked due to emergency calls. 

Ask parents to make an earthquake plan for their homes and to talk to their children about 

earthquake safety. 

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Conduct earthquake drills 

Just as you conduct drills for other types of emergencies (fires or 

tornadoes), you should conduct earthquake drills. (Ask your local 

office of emergency services or your Red Cross office for a 

recommendation on how frequently you should conduct 

earthquake drills in your area.) 

Identify a safe gathering place outside. 

Find a safe spot outside.This spot should be away from the building, 

trees, playground structures, fences, utility wires, or anything else 

that might fall on you. Make this your designated gathering place 

in case of an earthquake or other disaster. Ensure that all children 

and staff know where to go if you need to leave the building in 

an emergency. 

Teach the children to Drop, Cover, and Hold. 

During an earthquake, the most important thing for any child or 

adult to remember is to Drop, Cover, and Hold. 

At the first sign of shaking 

Drop to the ground.


Take Cover by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture.


Hold on until the shaking stops.


Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold in earthquake drills. 

Drop 

Cover 

Hold 

Tell the children that during an earthquake, the Earth might move 

beneath their feet like a boat in the waves. Explain that earthquakes 

may be noisy, with loud banging, crashing, or rumbling sounds 

and ringing alarm bells. 

Identify the safe places in each room: 

• under sturdy furniture like a heavy desk or table	 Safety Chant 

• against an inside wall, away from windows, mirrors,	 “If inside, drop, cover, and 

pictures, bookcases, or other heavy objects that might fall. hold. That’s where you’ll be 

safe. If outside, stay outside, 

Spend time explaining the Drop, Cover, and Hold drill and and find an open space.”


demonstrate what you want them to do. Get the children’s


attention and give clear and distinct commands. Speak in a


calm voice. At the command of “earthquake,” you and the children should immediately:


Drop, Cover, and Hold.


Because earthquakes and aftershocks come without warning, practice drop, cover, and hold


drills outside, in your play area, and in various parts of your facility.


Plan several routes for getting out of the building after an earthquake and practice 

evacuation drills regularly. 

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What You Can Do During an Earthquake

At the first sign of shaking 

• Drop to the ground 

• Take Cover by getting under a sturdy table or other 

piece of furniture. 

• Hold on until the shaking stops. 

Sometimes smaller tremors come before or after a 

larger earthquake. Because we never know until the 

shaking has stopped which quake is the main event, 

it is essential to Drop, Cover, and Hold at the first sign 

of shaking. 

If you are inside 

• Kneel down under a desk, table, or bench. If there aren’t 

enough sturdy pieces of furniture to get under, kneel 

next to an interior walls but away from windows, 

overhead light fixtures, and tall pieces of furniture that 

might fall over. 

• Stay under cover until the shaking stops (at least one 

minute). Face away from windows, and bend your head 

close to your knees. 

• Hold on to the table leg or desk (a few inches above the 

ground to avoid pinching fingers). Cover your eyes with 

your other hand. If your “shelter” moves, move with it. 

If you don’t have a “shelter” to hang on to, clasp your 

hands on the back of your neck to protect your face. 

If you are outside 

• Move into the open, away from buildings, fences, trees, 

tall playground equipment, utility wires, and street lights. 

• Don’t try to take cover in a 

doorway during an earthquake. 

The door may slam on you. 

• Don’t run outside during the 

shaking or use the stairways 

or elevators. Many people are 

killed just outside of buildings 

by falling bricks and 

other debris. 

• Don’t turn on the gas again if 

you turned it off; let the gas 

company do it. 

• Don’t use your telephone for 

the first 90 minutes after an 

earthquake, except for a 

medical or fire emergency. 

You could tie up the lines 

needed for emergency 

response. 

• Kneel or sit on the ground and cover your head and face with your hands. 

• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. 

If you are in a car 

Pull over to the side of the road—away from overhead power lines, trees, and overpasses. Stay 

in the car until the shaking stops. 

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What You Can Do After an Earthquake

1. Once the shaking has stopped, look around for possible hazards to determine if it is safe 

for you to move before getting up and helping others. If time permits and there is a small 

fire that can be put out with the fire extinguisher, do that. 

2. If you are inside, decide whether to evacuate or stay put. 

• 	Any of the following require immediate evacuation: fire, damage to structure, a gas leak,


or hazardous materials spill. In some situations, you may choose not to evacuate or to


delay evacuation. For example, if there is a slight shaking with no apparent damage and


another hazard such as severe weather, it may be more dangerous to move children outside.


• 	If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, 

open a window and then quickly leave with the 

children, and shut the gas off at the outside If you shut off the gas for any main meter. reason, a professional must 

• 	Unless you must evacuate immediately (fire, severe turn it back on. It may take damage to structure, gas leak, or hazardous materials days or weeks before they are spill), check all children and adults for injuries and able to do so. 

give first aid for injuries before evacuating. 

• 	Do not move seriously injured persons unless they


are in immediate danger of further injury (fire and flooding). Instead, cover them with


a sturdy table or whatever is available and send someone for medical help after the


earthquake shaking stops.


As time permits, you may need to turn off utilities such as gas, electricity, and water. 

If electrical wires are crackling inside, shut off the gas first, then turn off the master 


electrical switch.


If you must evacuate, get out of the building and to your designated safe gathering place, 

taking the emergency kit along with your list of children and their emergency contacts. 

When possible, to reduce the chances of both physical and emotional harm, move chil-


dren who are able to walk away from danger, away from collapsed


buildings, and away from severely injured survivors. If you must leave


the area, place a note for the parents outside the door, telling them


where you are going.


3. Call 9-1-1 if there is a fire or medical emergency. If the phone doesn’t 

work, send someone for help. 

4. Treat minor injuries. 

5. Reassure the children. Tell them that their parents will come for them 

as soon as they can, that their parents know everyone will be safe with 

you, and that you are all together. 

6. Listen to a battery-operated radio for instructions and the latest 

emergency information. 

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Be prepared for aftershocks 

Aftershocks are follow-up earthquakes that are usually smaller than the first one. They are 

dangerous because they can cause things that were weakened in the first earthquake to fall 

down.You may need to Drop, Cover, and Hold again. 

Reenter with caution 

After a minor earthquake or after you are informed by emergency responders that it is safe to 

reenter the building, open cabinets cautiously and beware of objects that might fall off shelves. 

Children’s reactions to earthquakes

Earthquakes can be terrifying, and it is natural for children and adults to 

be afraid. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, 

earthquakes are especially difficult to cope with because they come without 

warning and are followed by aftershocks. With continued shaking, survivors 

do not experience a clear end to the crisis. Some children and adults may 

have reactions very soon after the event, while others may experience 

problems weeks or months later. The following tips from the National Institute of Mental 

Health and other organizations will help you help the children in your care. 

During an earthquake 

During (and after) an earthquake, children will usually After a disaster, children are most become tearful and clinging. They will want their afraid that: 

parent(s). Even toilet-trained children may have 

accidents or experience nausea and vomiting. • the event will happen again 

Deal with the situation as calmly as you can. In a 

disaster, the children will look to you and other adults 

for help. How you react to an emergency gives them 

clues on how to act. 

• someone will be injured or killed 

• they will be separated from 

the family 

• they will be left alone 

As soon as you are sure the danger has passed 

Let the children know that you understand why they are scared. Comfort them with a hug or 

reassuring words. Reassure them that their parents know where they are or where they may 

go. Their parents will come to get them as soon as they can. They are safe with you.You will 

look after them. 

After an earthquake 

• Return to routine as soon as possible. 

• Express your own concerns openly, and let students know that it’s 

normal to be afraid. 

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• Encourage the children to talk about their fears. Help them 

sort out what is real from what is unreal. Encourage them to 

draw or write about their feelings. Children are less afraid of 

things that they understand. 

• Be aware that children begin to suck their thumbs, have 

difficulty eating or sleeping, wet their beds, or report 

mysterious aches or pains. It is common for children to 

“regress” or act younger when stressed. Do not criticize the 

children or call such behavior “babyish.” 

• Parents frequently look to you for advice, so help them understand their children’s behavior 

and be aware that they also may be suffering. Parents may be afraid to leave their children 

after a disaster. Some parents may be angry or upset because their children are frightened. 

Reassure them that with support most children will recover without any lasting problems. 

• Watch children for ongoing signs of emotional distress (avoiding things that remind them of 

the event, appearing numb or withdrawn, having nightmares). If a child continues to be 

disturbed for more than a few weeks, the family may need to seek professional counseling. 

While most children recover completely after a disaster, others may have more long-term 

problems that require treatment, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

• Understand that you also may have emotional difficulties after a traumatic event and take 

care of yourself. 

To Learn More 

Community resources 

Contact your local emergency management office or the American Red Cross chapter. 

Disaster and safety requirements for 

child care providers 

Contact your state’s day care or child care licensing office. 

Disaster planning and emergency preparedness 

• Federal Emergency Management Agency 

www.fema.gov 

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

www.ready.gov 

• Red Cross 

www.redcross.org 

• National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities 

www.edfacilities.org 

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Understanding emotional reactions 

to disasters 

• National Institute of Mental Health 

www.nimh.nih.gov 

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration 

www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov 

• American Red Cross 

www.redcross.org 

• National Association of School Psychologists 

www.nasponline.org 

Helpful publications 

• The Head Start Disaster Preparedness Workbook, UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters. 

www.cphd.ucla.edu/headstartwb.html 

• Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities, 

U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. 

www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/crisisplanning.pdf 

Earthquake and disaster information for kids 

• FEMA for Kids 

www.fema.gov/kids 

• U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquakes for Kids 

www.earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids 

Curriculum materials 

• Tremor Troop: Earthquakes: A Teacher’s Packet for K-6, FEMA 

www.fema.gov/hazards/earthquakes/nehrp/fema-159.shtm 

• Be Ready 1-2-3, Red Cross 

www.redcross.org/pubs/dspubs/tchrschl.html 

• Masters of Disaster Curriculum, Red Cross 

www.redcross.org/disaster/masters 

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