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We’ve updated this page to add our pick for the best headlamp, the Black Diamond Spot 350.

Focusing on the looming risk of an earthquake may feel like piling one more anxiety on top of an already long list. But getting prepared doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Really. An easy first step is learning what to do when the ground starts shaking (generally, you should drop to the ground, cover your head, and hold on). Next, you should gather some basic emergency supplies. We’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most essential items to have on hand if you live in a region that’s susceptible to serious shaking.

To decide which items to include, we relied on the extensive research done for our larger guide to emergency preparedness, as well as on Wirecutter reporters’ testing of fire extinguishers, emergency radios, LED lanterns, and USB power banks, among others. We spoke with Tammy Franks, program manager for Home and Community Injury Prevention at the National Safety Council. And we considered our own experience. Personally, I’ve been through about 15 earthquakes (that I could feel) in California, and three in Indonesia (but no tsunamis, thank goodness). The worst tremor, by far, was California’s South Napa quake in 2014. I was in Napa Valley, at the epicenter, when the 6.0 magnitude earthquake—the largest in the Bay Area since the 1989 Loma Prieta quake—hit. The glass doors in the condo complex shattered, and the power lines twisted and sparked. I was sleeping on the floor in the living room, and I can still remember, after it was over, staring up at the ceiling, watching the big, black chandelier above me eerily, silently swinging.

It’s a good idea to gather your supplies in a bin or bag and to include some nonperishable food. Storing supplies outside makes sense, if you can, especially if you live in a mild climate. In the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake, garage doors were knocked off-kilter and jammed, trapping supplies inside. “Also make sure to have your critical documents,” Franks said. Those include (at the very least) copies of your ID, medical insurance cards, and insurance policy numbers. Keep them in a secure place where you can quickly grab them, in the cloud or even in a safe deposit box, “so you’re not having to try to access a file cabinet in a collapsed building.”

Durable and leak-resistant, this container holds enough water for one person for a week.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $15.

If you live in earthquake territory, you need to stock water. “Ten days after the [1994] Northridge quake, there were 12,000 homes without a fresh water supply,” SOS Survival Products president Jeff Edelstein told us when we were researching water storage for our larger emergency preparedness guide. And that was a relatively localized, 6.7 magnitude earthquake. After testing several different containers, we think the 7-gallon Reliance Aqua-Tainer is the best overall choice for disaster preparedness. Rigid water containers made of blue polyethylene are better at storing and pouring water than opaque collapsible ones. They’re more durable and leak-resistant, and they prevent bacterial growth.

A 7-gallon Aqua-Tainer will provide a full week’s worth of water for one person, which is a more realistic target to plan for than FEMA’s modest three-day recommendation (since it could take longer than three days for water to be restored). The free, DIY option is to fill old soda bottles with tap water. Avoid using recycled milk or juice containers, though, because they are more likely to harbor bacteria.

If you need to prepare for an entire family, the 55-gallon Augason Farms Water Filtration and Storage Kit, or another barrel similar to it, is another option that will allow you to keep water for years without worry. The Augason Farms barrel includes everything you need to store and later use water, including a hose, pump, and liquid water purifier.

This dedicated tool can shut off gas and pry through debris after a quake.

If you see, hear, or smell evidence of a gas leak in the aftermath of an earthquake or some other disaster, your first priority is to turn off your gas. In almost all cases, a 12-inch or larger adjustable crescent wrench will work, as will our (much smaller) adjustable wrench pick, which has an extra-wide jaw. Consider keeping your wrench in a Ziploc bag and duct-taping it next to the valve. That way you won’t have to spend any time looking for it in an emergency. Pre-adjust the wrench to fit your valve before sealing it in the bag.

If you prefer, you could purchase a dedicated shut-off tool. After having discussions with a handful of experts, we feel comfortable recommending SurvivalKitsOnline’s On-Duty Emergency Gas and Water Shutoff 4-in-1 Tool. It was designed by firefighters in the aftermath of the San Francisco Bay Area’s 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and is often recommended to graduates of CERT emergency-preparedness classes. The 11-inch aluminum tool is sturdy and rustproof, and it won’t risk causing a spark, like a steel tool hitting steel might (important when gas is leaking). You can also use it to shut off your water valve, pry open doors, and dig through debris.

Don’t be too quick to use it, though. Smell a leak? Yes, turn off the gas. But note that in most cities, the gas company has to come to your home to turn your gas back on. In a citywide disaster, scheduling that visit could take days or even weeks. So avoid turning off the gas unless there’s a specific reason to do so.

Relatively lightweight and easy to maneuver, this reusable extinguisher can put out a wide variety of household fires.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $45.

Small fires are always a possibility after a quake—it’s even thought that the fires resulting from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake did more damage than the earthquake itself. You likely already have a fire extinguisher or two at home, and if you live in earthquake territory, you should have one that’s easily accessible on each floor (and ideally one in the kitchen and the garage, too). We’ve carefully compared home extinguishers, and our favorite is the First Alert PRO5, which is effective against all types of common household fires, including those involving wood and paper, burning liquids, and electrical fires. This model is relatively high-capacity, yet it still weighs a manageable 10 pounds. We prefer it over a disposable model because it has a sturdy and reliable metal valve (not plastic). If you do use it, you can refill it for about half the cost of a new extinguisher. Neighborhood preparedness programs, such as Map Your Neighborhood, often advise that you place your fire extinguisher out in front of your home following a quake, in case a neighbor needs one and doesn’t have one.

With great radio reception, NOAA early-warning notifications, and a hand crank that effectively revives it, the ER310 is a durable, compact radio that doubles as a flashlight and charging station.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $70.

Though early-warning systems are spreading, earthquakes can’t be forecast in any practical way in advance of the actual rupture. It’s still important to be able to receive critical updates after the event, though, and a good emergency weather radio can tune in to AM/FM and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration channels (collectively known as a “weather band,” but they also issue all-hazard alerts) and keep you informed if the power goes out.

The Midland ER310 offers better reception, a brighter flashlight, and more-effective charging options than other radios we tested, including the ability to charge from dead through solar power or hand-cranking. More important, it can receive NOAA all-hazard alerts, providing notifications that are both loud and readily visible so you won’t miss any warnings. The ER310’s convenient size makes it comfortable to carry, so it’s easier to grab on the go. It was also one of the few radios we tested that lived up to their crank-generating claims: We found that just one minute of cranking produced 10 minutes of radio time or a few minutes of flashlight use. Plus, its durable body can stand up to heavy rain or a drop onto a hard surface.

If there’s an emergency alert in your area, the ER310’s built-in NOAA audible alarm and flashing display will make sure you notice. When the siren sounds and the lights begin blaring—it can be quite clamorous—you can press any button to switch the radio to your preferred (preprogrammed) NOAA channel to get the news. If you fail to turn on the radio before a minute goes by, the memory indicator flashes every five seconds to let you know that an alert has been issued, and it continues to do so until you press any button to turn the notice off. So if you have hearing loss, or if you’re out of the house when the alarm goes off, you can still find out if some ugly conditions are headed your way. The flashlight also has an SOS blinking pattern, and the radio has a button that sets off a high-pitched tone—beyond the range of human hearing—to attract the attention of rescue dogs if you’re really in distress.

Able to charge even large phones like the iPhone 12 Pro Max or Google Pixel 4a from empty to full nearly three times, this super-pocketable power bank offers the fastest charging and recharging speeds of any model we tested.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $40.

It’s common for communication systems to get bogged down after a quake. “If possible, try to text, and short text,” the National Safety Council’s Franks said. “That doesn’t use up the networks as much, and you may be able to get that short text through rather than trying to connect a phone call. We recommend the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux as a reliable option for immediate power needs after an earthquake. It lacks the built-in cables of our previous pick, the Jackery Bolt, which has been discontinued, but its 10,000 mAh capacity is higher and strong enough to fully charge most phones at least three times. In addition to a USB-A output port, it has a USB-C Power Delivery port that enables charging (both input and output) up to 18.8 watts—nearly twice as fast as most power banks we’ve found with built-in cables. This means less time waiting around for your phone, and the power bank itself, to fully charge. About the size and shape of a bar of soap, the Redux has a smooth yet grippy texture and easily stows in a pocket or a pouch.

If you’re really strapped for power, the emergency radio we recommend has a USB port that can charge a phone through either solar power or a hand crank (but you’ll need to have a cable on hand).

Bright, durable, and long-running, the Spot 350 offers the best mix of the most important features.

A lantern or flashlight can be used to cope with an extended power failure, but a headlamp is a particularly convenient tool to have on hand in the aftermath of an earthquake, when you may need to quickly gather supplies or sift through debris. We like the Black Diamond Spot 350—the most capable headlamp we could find after our exhaustive research and testing. A version of the Spot has been at the top of our list since 2012. The updated 350 model gives us the same features we’ve always liked, but with 25 more lumens than the previous Spot, giving you a slight bump in brightness. (Since we stand by their older models, the Spot 300 is also still available and costs a bit less.) A recent update to the Spot’s top buttons makes them more intuitive to use; you’ll need to experiment with clicking through various configurations, but we think the learning curve is fairly short. This model offers both a red-light option (which is good for when you’re switching it on and off at night) and a strobe option, for emergency signaling. Its PowerTap technology lets you instantly transition the headlamp from full power to dimmed with one touch, and it weighs a decently lightweight 3 ounces with batteries installed.

The lantern you picture when you hear the word lantern, this model is more ruggedly built, powerful, and bright than any other model we’ve tested.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $53.

Though you may have your headlamp or a flashlight, if it becomes necessary to shelter in place for some time after an earthquake, a more-robust light source will be useful. The UST 60-Day Duro is the full package when it comes to portable outdoor lighting. It’s the brightest tabletop lantern we tested by far, and it has a handle on top so you can hang it from a carabiner, pick it up with ease, or hold it out in front of you like a creepy old innkeeper. A loop on the bottom gives you additional hanging options. The upper handle is also coated in textured rubber, making it easier to grasp. Like every other model we tested, the 60-Day Duro has three brightness settings and a cool tone—shedding light that’s bright enough to read by yet feels cozy. Perhaps its most admirable feature is its lifetime warranty.

The headlamp we recommend requires AAA batteries.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $5.

The lantern we recommend takes D batteries.

Most of the time, we recommend cost-effective, more environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries to power hardware that you can’t recharge or plug into a wall outlet. But during a power outage, the rules change, and it’s smart to keep a few disposable batteries on hand. If you don’t normally stock disposable batteries and are looking for something affordable, AmazonBasics Performance Alkaline Batteries are a good choice. They don’t provide as much power as some other options we’ve tested, but they work, and they have a 10-year shelf life. The headlamp we recommend takes AAA batteries, and the lantern uses D batteries.

This kit provides an inexpensive collection of basic first-aid essentials that everyone should have around.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $20.

The majority of deaths and injuries attributable to earthquakes occur during cleanup and recovery efforts, according to the National Safety Council, so it’s important to remain vigilant after the event (broken glass and small fires are common). The First Aid Only First Aid Essentials Kit offers a wide selection of gear for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns (bandages, gauze, wipes, ointments, and painkillers), as well as items for more serious injuries (trauma pad, gauze, and some dressing pads) that you could face in the aftermath. This kit’s case opens like a book, so it’s relatively easy to find what you’re looking for during high-stress moments.

We found this to be the best all-around duct tape, and it adheres to pretty much any surface.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.

There are an infinite number of things that could be cracked, leaking, punctured, or torn following a quake. Duct tape—ideal for binding, mending, gaffing cable, or even handling certain first-aid duties when the right materials are unavailable—is (as any MacGyver fan will tell you) an indispensable tool. Duck Max Strength Duct Tape is the best all-around duct tape we found, and it should serve you well in a pinch—even if the task includes sticking the tape to masonry, wood, plastic, or glass. Tape up a tarp, repair a cracked window pane, make a sling—there are so many possibilities.

Tammy Franks, program manager, Home and Community Injury Prevention, at the National Safety Council, phone interview, July 10, 2019

Gas safety, PG&E

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

M6 South Napa, California Earthquake, USGS, August 24, 2014

Earthquake Early Warning, CISN.org

Eve O'Neill is a senior staff writer reporting on travel and outdoors at Wirecutter. She can remember the titles on her childhood bookshelf that set her in this direction: Into Thin Air, On The Road, The Call of the Wild. She has always been drawn to ideas about how to relate to, and play in, the wilderness.

by Doug Mahoney and Joshua Lyon

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