Earthquake Prep Supplies By Room in 2026

Earthquakes differ from other natural disasters in two important ways. First, there is no warning. The shaking is the warning. Second, the most dangerous moments are the first 30 to 60 seconds of shaking, when furniture topples, glass breaks, and ceiling fixtures fall. Most earthquake preparedness content focuses on supplies for the days after a quake. The harder problem is making it through the first minute uninjured, which requires home hardening done before the quake. This guide covers both: the home hardening that prevents injuries, and the room-by-room supplies for the recovery phase.

Home hardening (do this first)

Hardening is the prep that pays back the most in injury prevention. Spend a weekend and $200 to $500 on these items before stocking any supplies.

Water heater strapping

Required by code in California, recommended throughout the western US. A full 50 gallon water heater weighs 400+ pounds. In a moderate quake, an unstrapped heater can topple, rupture the gas line, and cause a fire that destroys the home. Plumbers cite this as the most common cause of post-earthquake home loss.

Strapping kit: $15 to $30 at hardware stores. Two metal straps anchored to wall studs, one strap on the upper third of the tank, one on the lower third. Installation: 30 minutes with a stud finder and drill.

Furniture anchoring

Tall furniture (bookcases, dressers, china cabinets, entertainment centers) topples in moderate quakes and kills people sleeping or standing nearby. Anchor strap kits ($10 to $20 per piece) connect furniture to wall studs.

Priority order:

1. Bookcases over 4 feet tall
2. Dressers and chests of drawers
3. China cabinets and curio cabinets
4. Entertainment centers and TV stands
5. Refrigerators (commercial-grade earthquake straps required)

Heavy items on shelves should be on lower shelves. Glass items belong in low cabinets with latches, not on open shelves. Decorative items on top of dressers should be the lightest items.

Wall-mounted TVs

A 65 inch TV weighs 50 to 70 pounds. Stud-mounted brackets stay attached during quakes. Drywall-anchor brackets pull free and the TV becomes a falling object. Verify your TV is mounted to studs, not drywall anchors.

Cabinet latches

Kitchen and bathroom cabinets without latches eject their contents during shaking. Glass plates and bottles become projectiles. Child-safety latches ($5 for a pack of 10) installed on upper cabinets in kitchen and bathroom prevent the most dangerous projectiles.

Gas shutoff

Locate the gas main shutoff valve at the meter. Hang a crescent wrench or dedicated shutoff tool ($10) on a hook within arm’s reach of the meter. Practice the turn direction (clockwise to shut off). After a quake with possible gas line damage, this is the first action outside.

Heavy mirrors and frames

Frames over 5 pounds hung above beds, sofas, or seating should use earthquake hooks ($3 each) that close around the picture wire rather than open hooks the wire can lift off. Better: move heavy frames away from sleeping and seating areas.

Bedroom kit

The bedroom is where you are 8 hours a day. The bedroom kit covers the first minute and the first hour:

• Sturdy closed-toe shoes under the bed, attached by a strap or hook to the bed frame
• Flashlight strapped or hooked to bed frame, batteries installed
• Whistle within arm’s reach (in nightstand drawer or on lanyard nearby)
• Spare glasses on the nightstand for prescription wearers
• N95 mask for dust after the shaking stops
• Sturdy gloves for handling broken glass
• Small backpack with 24 hour kit: water, snacks, basic first aid, emergency blanket

The first action when shaking starts is drop, cover, hold on under or beside the bed. The first action after shaking stops is put on the shoes and get the flashlight before doing anything else. Glass on the bedroom floor is the most common injury vector in moderate quakes.

Kitchen kit

The kitchen is the most dangerous room during a quake. Heavy appliances, glass, knives, and broken pottery accumulate fast. After the shaking stops:

• Sturdy work gloves stored in a drawer accessible from outside the kitchen
• Broom and dustpan for glass cleanup
• Headlamp or flashlight if natural light is limited
• Battery operated radio for news
• Wrench for gas shutoff hung near the gas meter (outside the kitchen)

Storage placement matters as much as kit contents:

• Heavy items (cast iron, stand mixers) on bottom shelves only
• Glass items in lower cabinets with latches
• Knives in drawers with latches, not on countertop magnetic strips
• Spice and oil containers in latched cabinets, not on counter
• Coffee maker, toaster, microwave on rubber non-slip mats

Living room and den

• Flashlight in a known location (e.g., specific drawer)
• First aid kit accessible
• Emergency blanket in cabinet
• Wired or battery emergency radio
• Phone charger and battery bank (5000 mAh minimum)

Furniture placement:

• Sofa not under a wall-mounted TV
• Chairs not directly under tall bookshelves
• Glass coffee tables replaced with wood or low-profile alternatives if children present

Bathroom kit

• Flashlight in bathroom cabinet
• First aid supplies for cuts
• Bottled water under the sink (3 to 5 gallons per bathroom)
• Camp toilet or 5 gallon bucket with toilet seat lid stored in garage for use if water service interrupted

The bathtub is also a water storage opportunity post-quake. If shaking happens but tap water remains, fill the tub immediately for flushing and washing water.

Garage or shed kit

The largest supplies live here:

• 14 day water supply (5 gallon jugs or barrels)
• 14 day food supply
• Camp stove and fuel
• Extra batteries
• Tarps and tools for emergency repairs
• Wheelbarrow for moving debris
• Extra gloves, dust masks, eye protection
• Generator and fuel (if you have one)
• Crowbar and pry bar
• Hard hats (one per household member, for aftershock work)

Vehicle kit

Earthquakes catch people away from home. Vehicle kit minimum:

• Bottled water (1 gallon per occupant)
• Energy bars (12 to 24)
• Emergency blanket
• Flashlight
• Multi-tool
• First aid kit
• Sturdy shoes if you commute in dress shoes
• Cash in small bills
• Local paper map (cell networks fail in major quakes)

Office or workplace kit

Lockable drawer at work:

• Bottle of water
• Energy bars
• Comfortable walking shoes if you work in dress shoes
• Flashlight
• N95 mask
• Cash
• List of emergency contacts on paper
• Local paper map

Communication plan

In a major quake, cell networks fail or saturate within minutes. Text messages often go through when calls do not. Family communication plan:

• Designate one out-of-state contact as the central message relay (out-of-state calls often complete when local calls fail)
• Everyone in family memorizes that number
• Default check-in protocol: send a text to the out-of-state contact within 2 hours of any major quake
• Identify family meeting place if home is inaccessible

Insurance and documents

Stored in a waterproof container in the bedroom backpack or in the garage kit:

• Photocopies of driver’s license, passport, social security card
• Insurance policy summary pages
• Home inventory with photos
• Prescription list
• Family photos
• Vehicle titles
• Mortgage statement

Digital backup of the same items in the cloud.

See the methodology page for our preparedness evaluation framework. The emergency water storage and blackout kit articles cover the household supplies side.

Frequently asked questions