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no NO NO NO NO NO GO TO HELL WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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WHAT THE HELL?????????IS WORE WITH YOU??????

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AVOCADO FROM MEXICO

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I will never bow.Also you sus

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YOU, ALL OF YOU, MUST BOW TO HATSUNE MIKU, NOW>

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all bow to hatsune miku

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nice do

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jenny sus

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Earthquakes can cause tsunamis

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Tsunami and Earthquake Research | U.S. Geological Survey

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Skip to main content Official websites use .gov A.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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jhenny a bit sus

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California's earthquake 1994

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Kid's learn about the science of earthquakes. What causes them and where they happen.

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Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.

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An earthquake is the sudden, quick shaking of the earth. It is caused by rock breaking and moving under the ground. Additional earthquakes, known as aftershocks, can occur for hours, days, or even months after an earthquake. These are usually smaller than the first earthquake. However, they could cause more damage to structures weakened by the first earthquake.

Earthquakes can also cause tsunamis. Tsunamis are a series of waves caused by a large and sudden disturbance of the sea.

Words to Know

Am I at Risk?

What Can I Do?

Before

During
If Inside If Outside
After

Learn More

The "Ring of Fire' is the zone surrounding the Pacific Ocean where about 90% of the world's earthquakes occur.

The Richter Scale measures the strength of an earthquake. It goes from 0.0 (none) to 10.0.

Learn more with:

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Words to Know Am I at Risk? What Can I Do? Learn More

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Prepare Before

Stay Safe During

Stay Safe After

Additional Resources

If you are a disaster survivor, please visit FEMA.gov for up-to-date information on current disaster declarations. If you have questions about your disaster assistance application, you can call (800) 621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov or use the FEMA mobile app.

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth's surface. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. While they can happen anywhere without warning, areas at higher risk for earthquakes include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington and the entire Mississippi River Valley.

Prepare Before an Earthquake

The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.

Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with family and coworkers.

Make an Emergency Plan: Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated. Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for several days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.

Being prepared allows you to avoid unnecessary excursions and to address minor medical issues at home, alleviating the burden on urgent care centers and hospitals.

Remember that not everyone can afford to respond by stocking up on necessities. For those who can afford it, make essential purchases and slowly build up supplies.

Protect Your Home: Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.

Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake.

Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. A standard homeowner's insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage.

Stay Safe During

If an earthquake happens, protect yourself right away:

If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.

If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.

If you are inside, stay and do not run outside and avoid doorways.

Protect Yourself During Earthquakes

1. Drop (or Lock)

Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy. If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.

2. Cover

Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bent over to protect vital organs.

3. Hold On

If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with both hands.

Using a Cane?

Using a Walker?

Using a Wheelchair?

Stay Safe After

There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines.

Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.

If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.

If you are trapped, send a text or bang on a pipe or wall. Cover your mouth with your shirt for protection and instead of shouting, use a whistle.

If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops. Avoid contact with floodwaters as they can contain chemicals, sewage, and debris.

Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training. Learn how to be the help until help arrives.
If you are sick or injured and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for instructions. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

Once you are safe, pay attention to local news reports for emergency information and instructions via battery-operated radio, TV, social media or from cell phone text alerts.

Register on the American Red Cross "Safe and Well" website so people will know you are okay.

Use text messages to communicate, which may be more reliable than phone calls.

Be careful when cleaning up. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes. Do not try to remove heavy debris by yourself. Use an appropriate mask if cleaning mold or other debris. People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.

Additional Resources

Videos

Social Media and Graphics

Tip Sheets

More Information

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Learn how to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake. Prepare Before Stay Safe During Stay Safe After Additional Resources

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Earthquake Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Earthquakes

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Earthquakes involve the powerful movement of rocks in the Earth’s crust. The rapid release of energy creates seismic waves that travel through the earth.

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A student doing an experiment in the rock physics lab.

A trench dug across a fault to learn about past earthquakes.

A GPS instrument measures slow movements of the ground.

A scientist stands in front of a fault scarp in southern California.

Damage to badly-constructed buildings after an earthquake.

Scientists doing field work and looking at their notes.

Children's Privacy Policy

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USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, responsible for monitoring, reporting, and researching earthquakes and earthquake hazards