Earthquake Maps and Charts

Earthquake Hotspots USA

How to Keep Safe During an Earthquake

We have a number of resources below giving information on the best way to stay safe during an earthquake. Traditionally people have been taught that the duck and cover move is the best method of protecting your body if you are caught inside a building during a quake. This has been challenged by expert rescuer Doug Copp. Please go to this page to see the arguments for and against the duck and cover method and the triangle of life method advocated by Doug Copp.


FEMA: What to Do During an Earthquake
Doug Copp: Duck and Cover vs Triangle of Life
Rebuttal of Doug Copp's Triangle of Life

How to Prepare For an Earthquake

Preparing for an earthquake means educating yourself about what steps you can take prior to an earthquake - preparing your home, educating your family and creating a plan for your family and your community if possible. Knowing how to behave during an earthquake whether you are inside or outside, know what to do once an earthquake has occurred. Click on the links below to take you to more information on these areas.

What to Do Before an Earthquake
How to Keep Safe During an Earthquake
What to Do After An Earthquake

Earthquake Facts

• There are an estimated 500 000 earthquakes per year worldwide, 100 000 of them can be felt and only 100 cause damage. 
• The largest recorded earthquake in the USA was in 1964 in Prince William Sound in Alaska. It recorded 9.2 on the Richter scale.
• There is no government or organization that can accurately predict earthquakes.
• Each year southern California has 10 000 earthquakes, only 15-20 measure more than 4.0 on the Richter scale.
• The world deadliest earthquake happened in 1556 in China where 830 000 people were killed
• Alaska is the state most prone to earthquakes in the USA
• Earthquakes  are caused by shift plates underneath the earth' surface caused by pulses of energy emitted from the core of the earth.
• Earthquakes are measured in the Richter scale (aka local magnitude scale)
• Earthquakes measuring under 3 on the Richter scale are not felt, between 5-6 damage can be caused to poorly constructed buildings but only minor damage to well constructed buildings.
• 6 and above can be devastating to areas from a radius of 100 kilometers to several thousand kilometers.
• Earthquakes above 9 happen on average once every 20 years
• Earthquakes between 8 and 9 happen on average once per year
• The largest recorded earthquake was in 1960 in Chile and recorded 9.5 on the Richter scale.
• The highest number of deaths from an earthquake in the USA was the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 where 3000 died, many of these though were killed in the fire.
• The second highest number of fatalities in the USA is 165 in 1946 in Alaska

Emergency Preparedness - Earthquakes

Depending on where you live in the world, earthquakes will or will not present a real life threat to you. Despite the large number of earthquakes in the world, there have been relatively few fatalities in high earthquake zones such as California. Where there have been high fatalities in countries such as China, high population density and inadequate building safety have played a major part. This does not mean that you should not prepare. Earthquakes can devastate lives both in the short and long term and your preparedness may not only reduce your own personal suffering but also help others in need. 



In this section we will look at

• Basic Earthquake Facts
• How to Prepare for an Earthquake - Before, During and After

Preparing for Earthquakes: Duck and Cover vs Triangle of Life

The mainstream belief is the way you react in an Earthquake is to Duck and Cover - i.e. find something sturdy and hard like a table to get under and then cover your head. In this video Doug Copp - world famous rescue person talking about the failings of duck and cover and his method of the triangle of life. Please all read the rebuttal of the Triangle of Life method so you can be informed of the best way to protect yourself in your own personal circumstances