Earthquakes are part of life in Southern California, but preparation can make a major difference when strong shaking begins. A practical Los Angeles earthquake preparedness plan should address more than storing a flashlight and a few bottles of water. Residents should know how to protect themselves during shaking, receive earthquake warnings, communicate with family members, secure hazards inside the home, and manage the first hours and days after an earthquake.
Preparedness is especially timely in 2026 as Californians prepare for the Great California ShakeOut. The statewide earthquake drill gives households, schools, businesses, and organizations an opportunity to practice protective actions before they are needed in a real emergency.
Why Earthquake Preparedness Matters in Los Angeles
Earthquakes can occur with little or no traditional warning, and strong shaking can create hazards even in buildings that remain structurally sound. Unsecured furniture, broken glass, falling objects, damaged utilities, fires, blocked roads, and power outages can all complicate the situation after a significant earthquake.
The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management advises residents to prepare before an earthquake by creating emergency plans, practicing protective actions, assembling supplies, and securing objects that could fall.
Preparation should reflect your household’s actual circumstances. Consider children, older adults, people with disabilities or mobility needs, pets, medications, medical equipment, transportation needs, and the locations where household members normally spend their day.
Create a Household Earthquake Plan
A family emergency plan should answer a few basic questions before an emergency makes communication difficult. Decide where household members will meet if they cannot return home. Choose an out-of-area contact who can help family members reconnect, and make sure everyone knows how to reach that person.
Keep important contact information in more than one place. A printed copy can remain useful when a phone battery dies or internet service is unavailable. Parents should also understand the emergency procedures used by their children’s schools or childcare providers.
For additional Los Angeles-focused preparedness information, residents can use LA Public Safety as a starting point for practical safety and emergency-readiness resources.
Build an Earthquake Emergency Supply Kit
An emergency kit should support your household if utilities, stores, transportation, or communications are disrupted. Ready LA County recommends preparing substantial supplies of water, food, medications, first-aid materials, flashlights, radios, clothing, sturdy shoes, sanitation items, cash, and important documents.
The county’s current guidance recommends preparing water and food for approximately seven to ten days, including about one gallon of water per person per day. You can review its complete emergency supplies guidance when building your kit.
Think Beyond One Large Kit
Preparedness does not have to revolve around one container in a garage. Smaller kits can be useful in vehicles, workplaces, bedrooms, and grab-and-go bags. A bedside kit containing sturdy shoes, a flashlight, glasses, and necessary medications may be especially useful if an earthquake occurs at night and broken glass or debris is on the floor.
Check supplies periodically. Replace expired food, medications, batteries, and damaged equipment, and update documents or contact information when circumstances change.
Reduce Earthquake Hazards Inside Your Home
Many earthquake injuries can result from objects moving or falling during shaking. Walk through each room and identify tall furniture, televisions, mirrors, shelving, artwork, appliances, and other objects that could become hazards.
Ready LA County recommends securing televisions, monitors, bookcases, and other items that could fall. Heavy and breakable objects should generally be stored on lower shelves. Property owners may also want to evaluate whether their buildings have structural weaknesses that should be addressed by qualified professionals.
Know Your Safe Locations
Identify places where you could quickly protect yourself in the rooms you use most often. A sturdy table or desk can provide cover from falling objects. Avoid positioning yourself near windows, mirrors, tall unsecured furniture, or objects that could fall.
Knowing these locations in advance reduces the amount of decision-making required when shaking begins.
Know What to Do When Shaking Starts
For most people indoors, recommended earthquake protection is Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Drop to your hands and knees, take cover beneath a sturdy table or desk when one is nearby, protect your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
Los Angeles County advises people who are indoors to remain inside rather than trying to run outside while shaking is occurring. People using wheelchairs or walkers should follow appropriate guidance such as Lock, Cover, and Hold On.
If you are driving, pull over in a safe location away from buildings, trees, overpasses, underpasses, and utility lines when possible. Set the parking brake and remain in the vehicle until the shaking subsides.
Set Up Earthquake Early Warnings
Earthquake early warning is different from earthquake prediction. The earthquake has already begun when an early-warning system detects it, but electronic alerts may reach some people before stronger shaking arrives at their location.
The USGS ShakeAlert system detects significant earthquakes and supports earthquake early-warning services in California, Oregon, and Washington.
California residents can also review Earthquake Warning California for information about the MyShake app, Wireless Emergency Alerts, compatible phone-based warnings, and preparedness resources.
Alerts may provide only seconds of notice, and not every earthquake will produce an alert at every location. The purpose of those seconds is to take immediate protective action rather than gather belongings or attempt to leave a building.
Practice During the 2026 Great California ShakeOut
The 2026 International ShakeOut Day is scheduled for October 15, 2026. Los Angeles households can use the event as a reminder to practice their earthquake response and review their overall preparedness.
A useful drill can go beyond simply getting under a table. Check whether family members know their safest locations, whether emergency supplies are accessible, whether important furniture is secured, and how everyone would reconnect if separated.
Make the Drill Realistic
Practice from the locations where people are likely to be during an ordinary day. Consider what you would do in a bedroom, kitchen, office, classroom, or vehicle. Families can also practice checking emergency supplies and sending a short message to their designated emergency contact.
The Great California ShakeOut resources include materials for households, schools, businesses, and organizations that want to organize more detailed drills.
What to Do After an Earthquake
When shaking stops, remain alert for aftershocks and new hazards. Check yourself and others for injuries before moving around unnecessarily. Look for obvious damage and avoid areas where falling debris, broken glass, unstable objects, fire, or damaged utility lines create danger.
Use text messaging when practical if communications networks are congested, and follow information from official emergency authorities. Do not enter severely damaged structures until authorities or qualified professionals determine that doing so is safe.
Keep Your Plan Current
Earthquake preparedness is not a one-time project. Household members move, medications change, children grow, phone numbers change, and emergency supplies expire. Review your plan at least periodically and use annual events such as the Great California ShakeOut as a reminder to update it.
Start Preparing Before the Next Earthquake
Los Angeles residents cannot control when an earthquake will occur, but they can control many aspects of their preparation. A useful Los Angeles earthquake preparedness strategy combines a household communication plan, adequate emergency supplies, safer home organization, early-warning technology, and regular practice of protective actions.
Start with manageable improvements. Secure one hazardous bookcase, assemble a basic supply kit, enable earthquake warnings, choose an emergency contact, and practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Building preparedness gradually is far better than waiting until after the next earthquake to begin.