The Moment the Shaking Begins: Earthquake Action Manual by Location

When an earthquake begins, the familiar evacuation guidelines can vary depending on the location. At home, you need to assess the positions of furniture and windows, while in schools and workplaces, you should protect your head under a desk and wait for announcements. In crowded shopping areas or performance venues, rushing to the exits can create new hazards. The first thing to do is to protect yourself from falling objects and glass, rather than rushing out.

This list organizes actions based on where you might be: at home, in a classroom, an office, an elevator, a shopping area, a performance venue, a hospital, a bedroom, a kitchen, or in a high-rise building. Each item distinguishes immediate actions to take during shaking and things to check after the shaking stops. The actual structure of the building, on-site announcements, and instructions from facility managers take priority over general checklists, and if there are clear risks like gas leaks, fires, or collapses, you should quickly report and evacuate.

If you immediately rush outside or crowd towards stairs and exits during shaking, you might be exposed to falling glass and debris or crowd-related accidents. If you are in an elevator, press all the floor buttons and exit on the first floor that opens, and if you get stuck, request help through the intercom. Compare these actions with where you typically spend time, and check the actual positions of tables, emergency exits, shoes, and flashlights.

The easiest way to remember earthquake actions by location is to separate actions during shaking from those after it stops. During shaking, lower your body, protect your head and neck, and move away from glass and falling objects. After the shaking stops, put on your shoes, check for fire, gas, and exits, and then move according to announcements and instructions from responsible parties. Sharing this sequence with family and colleagues in the same words can reduce the risk of conflicting judgments during urgent moments.

At home and work, check if there is actually space to get under a table, whether tall furniture and TVs are secured, and if you can find your shoes and flashlight at night. In schools, hospitals, and performance venues, there are evacuation plans and helpers, so it is important to listen to guidance rather than making individual judgments that could lead to danger. If the evacuation route is damaged or there is a fire, do not insist on your usual route and choose alternatives according to on-site control.

This list alone cannot determine the structural safety of a building. If you identify large cracks, tilting, gas smells, sparks, smoke, or collapse sounds, do not approach and notify 119 and the managing authority. Aftershocks cannot be accurately predicted in terms of timing and magnitude, so establish a principle of not re-entering damaged buildings to retrieve belongings.