In the event of an earthquake, you need to be extremely careful and cautious. If you are at home, it is most wise to get as close as you can to a big, steady object such as a master size bed or a normal sized dining table. Lie down or crouch adjacent to such objects until the quake hits a red light. This is because if the worst happens and the roof collapses, the slab of concrete will first hit the furniture piece and then make a slant, angle, to adjust itself on the floor. You will most probably be kept safe as your crouching position will be too short to be even touched by a major piece of concrete/wood/etc.However, be careful NOT to even get near large, unstable objects such as grandfather clocks as these may topple over themselves.
In cases where this is not possible, it is then most logical to stand under a doorframe and hold the two sides firmly with your hands. This is because in most house designs, doorframes are individual pieces and tend to fall down at the end. Holding it tightly helps ensure your safety beneath (it).
In most indoor cases, either of the two are possible and should be the only taken into consideration. Once the quake has temporarily halted, immediately get important documents & valuables and evacuate the building. Stay away from trees, poles, power lines, buildings, bridges & other such potentially dangerous things.
If you are driving, slowly bring the car to a halt on the side of the road. Sudden braking, turning or maneuvering may cause your vehicle to get out of control and hit somewhere unwanted. Hold firmly onto the wheel, brake slowly and firmly and keep your hazard & low-beam lights on. Stay away from bridges, underpasses, flyovers, trees, poles & power lines. If you are on a mountainous area, react similarly and make sure you are particularly careful of other cars, especially parked ones.
Get hold of any kind of working radio if possible, and stay tuned to weather reporters & news agencies who will inform you about the situation and important governmental information such as the announcing of a road closure. This is a step also to be taken in the events of tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, earthquakes, floods and other such unexpected irregular events. Be prepared for earthquakes which may strike at any random time if you are in an earthquake zoned area, and practice earthquake drills regularly at home with your family.
