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Let’s start with the basics. What is an earthquake? An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent enough to propel objects and people into the air, and wreak destruction across entire cities. (Wikipedia, 2020) As you can understand, it is very dangerous and scary.  Earthquakes are being rated in “Richer Scale” like 6.0 or 5.4 . Some of the most destructive earthquakes were in Pakistan in 2005 (7.6), Indonesia in 2004 (9.1), Japan in 1995 (6.9), Alaska in 1975 (9.2) and caused more than 5.000 people die  in each earthquake (Source: science.howstuffworks.com). Of course, not all earthquakes are this destructive or this big. Actually, right know, wherever you are, there might be an earthquake. Of course you are not feeling it, it is probably one of the small ones. You can keep the track of earthquakes in various types of sites, or you can find the real time seismic movements on our page.

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Then, What To Do During an Earthquake?

If an earthquake ever happens and you can feel it, here are some basic things you can do.

 If you are INDOORS -- STAY THERE! Get under a desk or table and hang on to it (Drop, Cover, and Hold on!) or move into a hallway or against an inside wall. STAY CLEAR of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. GET OUT of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). DON'T run downstairs or rush outside while the building is shaking or while there is danger of falling and hurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris.

If you are OUTSIDE -- get into the OPEN, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

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If you are DRIVING -- stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. DO NOT stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. STAY INSIDE your car until the shaking stops. When you RESUME driving, watch for breaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road at bridge approaches. 

If you are in a MOUNTAINOUS AREA -- watch out for falling rock, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quakes.

If you are near the OCEAN - see these safety rules from NOAA's Tsunami Warning Center. (Source: usgs.com)

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I hope you will never have to use these things in your life, but let’s know it just in case.