Indoor Earthquake Response Guide by Location

During the Shaking vs. After It Stops — An Indoor Earthquake Guide by Location

From home to school to elevators to hospitals, ten indoor locations with separate guidance for while it's shaking and once it stops.

When an earthquake hits, the general safety habits you already know don't apply the same way in every indoor space. At home, ducking under a table is usually enough, but at school or in an office the sequence matters more: protect your head under a desk first, then wait for an announcement before moving. In a crowded place like a store or a theater, everyone rushing the exit at once can turn into its own hazard, separate from the shaking itself.

What you should do while the ground is still moving is different from what you should check once it stops. During the shaking, the priority is getting low and protecting your head and neck; once it stops, the priority shifts to checking exits, gas, and electricity before calmly moving out. This guide covers ten indoor locations — home, the bedroom, the kitchen, the office, school, elevators, retail spaces, theaters, hospitals, and high-rises — and splits guidance for each into those two stages.

How these were chosen

Selected indoor spaces where people actually spend real time day to day
Split guidance into during-the-shaking and after-it-stops so the sequence isn't confused
Marked which situations call for dialing 119 and which ones you can judge on your own

Home: protect your head and neck under a table

If you feel shaking at home, getting under a nearby table beats running for the door. Hold onto the table legs and shield your head and neck with a cushion, clothing, or your arm from anything that might fall. Only once the shaking stops should you put on shoes and check the gas valve, the breaker, and whether the exit is clear before moving. Running past a window or a display cabinet while it's still shaking is more likely to get you hurt than help you.

School: get under the desk and follow the announcement

In a classroom, following the evacuation routine you've already practiced matters more than deciding on your own. While it's shaking, get under the desk, hold the legs, and protect your head and neck; once it stops, line up and move to the designated area — usually the schoolyard — following the teacher's or the announcement's instructions. Stairwells and hallways get crowded fast when several classes move at once, so don't break off toward a window or door by yourself.

Office: move away from windows and tall furniture

In an office, the space under your desk or near an interior wall is safer than standing by the windows. While it's shaking, get low and protect your head and neck with your hands or a bag; once it stops, check the emergency announcement and the evacuation coordinator's guidance before moving. Avoid standing next to a copier, a filing cabinet, or a glass partition, and take the stairs instead of the elevator to evacuate.

Elevator: press every floor button and get off at the first stop

If you feel shaking inside an elevator, getting off at whichever floor opens first is the priority, even if it isn't your destination. Press every floor button, and once you're out, take the stairs. If the doors won't open and you're stuck, use the intercom to call for help and wait for building staff or emergency responders — trying to force the doors open or repeatedly pressing the call button on your own can be dangerous.

Retail spaces: get clear of shelving and glass

In a store or department store full of shelving, units can topple and lighting or glass items can fall. While it's shaking, protect your head with a bag or a shopping basket, get low, and stay clear of the shelves. Once it stops, follow staff announcements and check how crowded the exits are before moving — rushing the exit all at once or stepping onto an escalator that could stop mid-motion isn't safe.

Theaters: protect your head between the seats

In a dark, crowded venue like a movie theater or concert hall, the moving crowd itself can be more dangerous than the shaking. While it's shaking, get low between the seats and shield your head with a bag or your arm. Once it stops, follow staff announcements and move toward the nearest exit in an orderly way — don't dash for a dark corridor first and push past other audience members.

Hospitals: prioritize medical staff guidance and equipment

In a hospital, the safety of patients who can't move easily and of medical equipment comes first. While it's shaking, lock the wheels on a wheelchair or hospital bed, protect the patient's head, and wait for staff instructions. Once it stops, always confirm with staff whether moving is possible and which evacuation route is safe — don't disconnect equipment attached to a patient or decide on your own to use the elevator.

Bedroom: cover your head with a pillow and wait

If you feel shaking while asleep, forcing yourself up and moving around in the dark can itself be risky. If nothing nearby is likely to fall, lie flat and cover your head and neck with a pillow or blanket until the shaking settles. Once it stops, grab a flashlight and shoes first and move carefully around broken glass — don't rush out of the room barefoot.

Kitchen: protect yourself before the stove

If you're cooking when the shaking starts, staying by the stove just to turn it off can become the dangerous choice. Turn off whatever heat source you can safely reach, but if the shaking is strong, step away immediately and protect your head and neck first. Once it stops, check for a gas smell or fire, report and evacuate if needed, and don't try to catch a falling pot or dish with your hands.

High-rises: move away from windows and stay inside

The higher up you are in a building, the longer and stronger the shaking can feel. While it's shaking, move away from windows and exterior walls and get under a sturdy desk or piece of furniture to protect your head and neck. Once it stops, check building announcements and stairwell conditions before moving calmly — heading straight for the stairs or elevator while it's still shaking is dangerous.

How to remember this

The same core principle applies across all ten locations: get low and protect your head and neck while it's shaking, then check exits and surroundings only after it stops. Some places, like #4 elevators and #2 schools, call for following set procedures or staff guidance rather than deciding on your own, while others, like #1 home and #8 the bedroom, call for protecting your body immediately.

If you see cracks, visible tilting, or smell gas, don't go back in — call 119 first. This information is current as of September 2026, and a building's actual evacuation procedures and live announcements always take priority over this guide.

Frequently asked questions

Should I always run outside while it's shaking?

No. Running outside during the shaking itself can expose you to falling glass, debris, or crowd hazards. Protect your head and neck under a table or desk first, then check the exit and evacuation route once it stops before moving.

What should I do if I'm stuck in an elevator?

Use the intercom to call for help and wait for guidance from building staff or emergency responders. Trying to force the doors open yourself can be more dangerous than waiting.

Is it safe to go back inside right after the shaking stops?

No — if you notice large cracks, visible tilting, a gas smell, sparks, or sounds of collapse, don't go in; call 119 and notify building management instead. Aftershocks are possible, so avoid re-entering a building of uncertain condition just to retrieve belongings.

What's different about crowded places like schools or offices?

In places like schools and offices, following the set procedure or staff announcement matters more than deciding for yourself, because a shared stairwell or hallway can get dangerous if everyone acts differently at once. Protect your head under a desk while it's shaking, then move together to the designated area once instructed.

What should I do if an earthquake happens while I'm asleep?

Don't force yourself to get up and move around in the dark. If nothing nearby could fall on you, lie flat and cover your head and neck with a pillow or blanket until the shaking stops, then grab a flashlight and shoes before moving carefully to avoid broken glass.

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How these were chosen

Home: protect your head and neck under a tableUpvote

School: get under the desk and follow the announcementUpvote

Office: move away from windows and tall furnitureUpvote

Elevator: press every floor button and get off at the first stopUpvote

Retail spaces: get clear of shelving and glassUpvote

Theaters: protect your head between the seatsUpvote

Hospitals: prioritize medical staff guidance and equipmentUpvote

Bedroom: cover your head with a pillow and waitUpvote

Kitchen: protect yourself before the stoveUpvote

High-rises: move away from windows and stay insideUpvote