My Safety Net
You can speed and strengthen your recovery after an earthquake by preparing your own safety net today.
Remember, preparedness is a journey: Do what you can, one step at a time. Each step will help make it easier to get back on your feet again tomorrow.
What actions help create a safety net?
Put together an emergency financial first aid kit. By gathering and safely storing copies of your important documents now—such as identification, insurance policies, and medical records—you’ll have quick and easy access to the information you’ll need after an earthquake or other disaster.
How to build your kit:
- Workbook with instructions & checklists: English; Spanish; other languages.
- Instructions & 1-page worksheet: English.
Contribute to an emergency savings account. Your recovery expenses may include repairing your home, replacing damaged belongings, and living elsewhere while repairs are made. An emergency savings account can help you cover these costs, and it’s a resource for other disaster situations, too.
- Essential guide to building an emergency fund (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
Set aside some emergency cash.
Earthquake damage can disrupt ATMs and digital transactions. If you can, keep some emergency cash handy to pay for immediate expenses, such as food.
Consider purchasing earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies don’t pay for earthquake damage unless you specifically add coverage to your policy.
Learn more about financial preparedness.
- FEMA: Ready.gov: Financial preparedness.
- FEMA: Homeowner’s Guide to Prepare Financially for Earthquakes.
- FEMA: Renter’s Guide to Prepare Financially for Earthquakes.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Dealing with disasters and emergencies.
Reduce likely damage by making your home safer and sturdier. Do a home hazard hunt to identify contents that should be moved or better secured to prevent damage or injury during an earthquake. If you’re a homeowner, consider whether retrofitting is needed to make your building sturdier and safer during an earthquake.
- What’s a home hazard hunt? Watch Video | View Poster
- Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety, Step 1 Secure Your Space.
- Examples of Structural Risks.
- Learn more about strengthening your home.
- Earthquake Safety at Home (FEMA P-530 / March 2020) PDF
- Protect Your Property from Earthquakes FEMA Brochure.
- Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety: Step 4 Strengthen Your Home or Building.
- Listen to Ready to Recover Podcasts from CREW
- Earthquake Retrofit Grant Programs.
- In California: Brace + Bolt | Strengthen Your House | Soft-Story Retrofit Grant Program.
- In Salt Lake City, Utah: Fix the Bricks.
Earthquake Safety
How to Prepare
How prepared are you for an earthquake? When the Earth Shakes Video.
Western U.S. Western Region Earthquake Preparedness Information.
Central & Eastern U.S. CUSEC: Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.
Ready.gov: Earthquakes.