2025 Earthquake Preparedness Guidelines

As we enter 2025, updated guidelines from FEMA and the CDC provide new insights into effective earthquake preparedness. These guidelines reflect lessons learned from recent seismic events and technological advances in disaster management.

Updated Home Preparedness

New recommendations for 2025 include:

• Securing furniture to walls with earthquake-resistant brackets rated for modern homes
• Installing seismic dampers on water heaters to prevent gas leaks
• Creating a home inventory for insurance purposes
• Installing battery backup systems for smart homes

Emergency Kit Essentials

The 2025 guidelines recommend an updated emergency kit that includes:

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days
• Non-perishable food for at least one week
• First aid kit and essential medications
• Portable phone chargers and battery-powered radios
• Digital copies of important documents
• Cash in small denominations

Community Preparedness

New for 2025, emphasis is placed on community-level preparedness, including neighborhood communication networks and local response plans that don't rely on damaged infrastructure.

Digital Preparedness

With increasing reliance on digital communication, guidelines now include establishing backup communication methods and ensuring important information is stored both digitally and in physical form.