What Pet Parents Should Know About Earthquake Safety

October 20th marks International Shakeout Day, a day to spread global awareness about earthquake safety. Millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, and at home.
As a pet parent, chances are if you ever experience an earthquake, you’ll be with your cat or dog. Pets are at risk of getting lost during natural disasters because when instincts take over, they may try to run and hide, which can put them in danger. Learn how you can be prepared during an earthquake and what you can do to help your pet stay safe.

What Happens During An Earthquake?

The earth’s crust is made up of tectonic plates that are constantly in motion. When the plates shift, an earthquake occurs.
Each year, millions of earthquakes happen around the world, and the great majority have a magnitude of 2.5 or less, meaning they’re so mild they can only be detected by a seismograph.
Thousands of earthquakes happen globally each year at 2.5 to 5.4 magnitude that can be felt but causes little to no damage. Plates and cups may fall and break, but buildings and major infrastructure are unaffected.
A few hundred earthquakes each year have a magnitude of 5.5 or more, which can cause power outages, damage buildings, and cause injuries and death. The earthquake itself does not cause injury. Falling trees, collapsing buildings, windows breaking, and falling objects are what can make earthquakes so dangerous.
Earthquakes can happen at any time of year, and they are impossible to predict. They can occur anywhere around the world but are more common in areas that are close to fault lines, or cracks in the earth’s crust. In the United States, quakes are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, and Ohio.

What To Do During An Earthquake

For those of us who do not live in regions where major earthquakes are common, it’s easy to dismiss them as something we’ll never have to worry about. But they can happen anywhere, and it’s also possible to be caught in an earthquake while traveling or on vacation. Earthquakes happen with little to no warning. Early warning alerts are sent out seconds after the first waves are detected by a seismograph. The waves start at the epicenter of the quake and take seconds to travel a few miles out, where they will get less and less intense.
Depending on the magnitude of the earthquake and the distance you are from the epicenter, you may get an alert a few seconds before you start to feel waves, or you may get no warning at all.
An earthquake only lasts 10 to 30 seconds. By the time you get an alert or feel the first rumbles, you’ll have just moments to get into a safe position. There will usually not be enough time to safely evacuate, move to a different room, or go inside if you’re out walking your dog. According to ShakeOut.org, when you get an alert or start to feel shaking, you need to drop, cover, and hold on.

Drop down on your hands and knees so you do not trip and fall.
Cover the back of your head and neck with one or both arms. If you can, crawl under a sturdy table or desk for shelter to protect you from flying objects.
Hold on to your table or desk until the shaking stops. If you’re without shelter, hold onto the back of your head and neck.

It is no longer recommended to stand in a doorway or run outside.

Earthquake Safety with Pets

Pets may panic when the shaking starts and may attempt to run away.
Your own safety should always be your first priority. If you can, hold onto your pet. If you’re walking your dog, hold onto the leash so they cannot run away.
If possible, protect your pet from falling objects and keep them close to you so they do not get lost. It’s common, unfortunately, for pets to scratch or bite when they get scared, and it might not be safe for you to hold onto them.
Animals will often seek safety and come out when the scare is over. We cannot control how our pets react to emergencies, and in some situations, it is not possible to keep them safe. Make sure they are prepared for any outcome by having your cat or dog microchipped so your pet can be returned to you.

After Earthquake Safety for Pets

After a severe earthquake, you may need to evacuate the building if it’s no longer structurally sound. As with other natural disasters, you’ll greatly increase your chances of getting your cat or dog to safety as quickly as possible if you keep an emergency evacuation kit that includes supplies and extra food for your pet.
After a moderate to intense earthquake, there may be aftershocks. Aftershocks are mild rumbles that can occur hours, weeks, or months after the main earthquake.
Even following a mild earthquake during which there was no injury or major damage, both people and their pets can experience post-traumatic stress. Watch your pet closely for signs of increased anxiety and talk to your vet if your pet may need mental health support.