Why is 72 hours the benchmark for earthquake prep?

It's used as a practical planning figure for the possibility that outside help doesn't arrive immediately, not a number guaranteed to fit every situation. Adjust the amount of water and food based on your household size, health needs, and local guidance rather than treating it as fixed.

What if my family can't reach each other by phone?

Agreeing on one out-of-area contact that everyone can leave updates with ahead of time helps when local lines are down. Pairing that with a meeting point near home and another outside the neighborhood gives your family a way to reconnect without relying on calls going through.

Can I bring my pet to an evacuation shelter?

Whether pets are allowed varies by shelter, so check with your local government or the relevant authority in advance. It also helps to line up a temporary caregiver in case the shelter you end up at doesn't allow pets.

72-Hour Earthquake Prep Checklist for Home

From family contact plans to pet carriers, ten steps that turn earthquake readiness into an actual plan, not just a shopping list.

Earthquake readiness isn't finished once you buy a go-bag. It has to include how your family will reach each other if you're separated, where you'll meet, and which hazards sit inside your own home. This list breaks that into ten pieces: contact plans, meeting points, furniture anchoring, utility shutoffs, food and water rotation, medication, backup power, documents, pets, and an actual practice run.

Read each entry for who it applies to and what to check, rather than as a shopping list. Local shelter locations and rules change, so confirm current details through your municipality's official disaster information channels before you rely on them.

Agree on a contact plan and meeting points

If phone networks go down right when your family is scattered, having an agreement beats having a device. Pick one out-of-area contact everyone can reach, plus a spot near home and another outside the neighborhood to regroup at, and write both down. Revisit the numbers and locations whenever your routine changes, and avoid a plan that relies on one person calling everyone else.

Know your designated outdoor evacuation site

Knowing where you're headed before an earthquake happens saves decision-making time you won't have afterward. Save the nearest designated outdoor evacuation site and at least two walking routes to it through your local disaster safety portal or app. Construction and access can change, so check periodically rather than searching for the first time on the day it happens.

Anchor tall furniture and anything that can tip

A lot of earthquake injuries come from falling furniture, not the shaking itself. Secure bookshelves, wardrobes, and TVs to the wall, and move heavy items down to lower shelves. Confirm the anchor hardware actually matches your wall material — double-sided tape alone isn't enough for large furniture.

Before the Go-Bag: A 72-Hour Earthquake Prep Checklist for Home

Agree on a contact plan and meeting points

Know your designated outdoor evacuation site

Anchor tall furniture and anything that can tip

Learn where your gas and electric shutoffs are

Rotate stored water and food instead of stockpiling and forgetting

Keep medication and prescription info separate

Check flashlights, a radio, and backup power

Keep ID, insurance, and contact documents waterproof

Put together a go-bag for your pet

Walk your actual evacuation route wearing the bag

Frequently asked questions

Get new lists before anyone else

Agree on a contact plan and meeting points👍 Upvote

Know your designated outdoor evacuation site👍 Upvote

Anchor tall furniture and anything that can tip👍 Upvote

Learn where your gas and electric shutoffs are👍 Upvote

Rotate stored water and food instead of stockpiling and forgetting👍 Upvote

Keep medication and prescription info separate👍 Upvote

Check flashlights, a radio, and backup power👍 Upvote

Keep ID, insurance, and contact documents waterproof👍 Upvote

Put together a go-bag for your pet👍 Upvote

Walk your actual evacuation route wearing the bag👍 Upvote

Frequently asked questions

Get new lists before anyone else

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Agree on a contact plan and meeting points

Know your designated outdoor evacuation site

Anchor tall furniture and anything that can tip

Learn where your gas and electric shutoffs are

Rotate stored water and food instead of stockpiling and forgetting

Keep medication and prescription info separate

Check flashlights, a radio, and backup power

Keep ID, insurance, and contact documents waterproof

Put together a go-bag for your pet

Walk your actual evacuation route wearing the bag