Pantry and go-bag for an earthquake: what to do before the shaking
How to secure your pantry shelves, what to put in the emergency go-bag and what to do about food and water after an earthquake, with simple steps for homes with kids.
In an earthquake, the first thing that moves is not the ground: it is the things. Glass jars falling from a high shelf, a pantry door swinging open and emptying, a refrigerator sliding across the floor. According to Ready.gov, an earthquake can make heavy objects fall and cause injuries. And a good part of that risk shrinks beforehand, with one afternoon and a few hooks.
This guide is for people living in seismic areas, such as much of Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Mexico and Central America, who want their pantry and go-bag ready before the next tremor.
First, the pantry
Ready.gov and the US CDC agree on the basics:
- Heavy and fragile, low. Keep glass jars, bottles and large cans on the lower shelves. Light things, like cereal and crackers, can go up high.
- Guardrails on shelves. The CDC recommends a wooden or metal guardrail on each open shelf; a less visible alternative is stretched fishing line. Velcro-type fasteners can also hold some items in place.
- Furniture anchored to the wall. Bookcases, tall cabinets and freestanding shelves are fixed to the wall with brackets or straps. A 2-meter metal shelf that is not anchored is a hazard.
- Latches on doors. Safety latches keep the pantry from swinging open and emptying.
- Nothing heavy above beds or sofas. Check the kitchen too: whatever sits above where people sleep or sit.
Water and food: what you store for afterward
After an earthquake you may lose running water, power and gas, and sometimes for days. The base is the same as the 72-hour kit: one gallon of water (3.8 liters) per person per day, and food that needs no cooking or refrigeration. If your home has a tank, store water in containers that do not break; a PET bottle survives a fall better than glass.
The go-bag: besides water and food, a flashlight, battery radio, first-aid kit, whistle, copies of documents, small bills and your medications. One per person, by the door or under a sturdy table; not in the back room. If there are babies or pets, add their things.
During: what to do
Practice with your family the move Ready.gov recommends: drop, cover and hold on. Get on your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with your arms, and hold on to something sturdy until it stops. Do not run outside while it shakes, and stay away from doorways and glass. In a house with kids, rehearse it as a game once a month.
After: food and water
- Check before opening. Open cabinet doors carefully: the contents may have shifted.
- If the power went out, follow what to do with food during a power outage: perishables first, canned goods after.
- If you smell gas, do not light anything, ventilate and leave. Learn where your home's gas shuts off: the CDC recommends knowing how to turn off gas, electricity and water.
- Take care of the water. If pipes may be damaged, use your stored water and purify before drinking anything you doubt.
- Aftershocks. Expect them for days; keep sturdy shoes and the bag within reach.
Every six months
Change the water, check dates and batteries, and adjust the kids' clothes. It is the same idea as rotating your pantry: what you store has to still work when you need it.
If you want your kit and pantry inventory in one place, the Despendo 72-hour checklist marks what you already have and what is missing.
This guide does not replace the instructions of your country's risk-management authorities. If your area has its own protocols and alerts, follow those first.
Sources and further reading
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By subscribing you accept our privacy policy.Despendo is an independent app. This guide is general information: adapt it to your family, climate and medical needs, and always follow local authorities' instructions.
