Locate and learn how to shut off gas, water, and electrical lines when appropriate. Conduct practice drills to remind family members of the correct procedures. Select an out of area friend or relative to contact, if necessary, to report whereabouts. Decide how and where your family will attempt to reunite after a quake. Remaining calm may be the most difficult thing to do during an earthquake, but if you have prepared properly and practiced you actions it will be easier to accomplish.
Many people panic only because others are panicking.
Remember that even in a great earthquake the damaging shaking will not last much longer than about a minute. Take the following one minute quiz to see how you would react under the given conditions. One Minute Earthquake Quiz Press here for correct answers. After the earthquake many things are often going to be quite different. Power lines may be down, fires may have started, glass and other objects will be scattered about.