Earthquake preparedness is often reduced to a bag: water, torch, batteries, blanket. Those items matter, but a bag on top of a wardrobe does not tell a family what to do when the room starts moving. Equipment can be bought in an afternoon. A working plan has to reflect the actual home, the ages and health of the people inside it, children, pets and the physical layout of the building.
After the 2020 İzmir earthquake, many households prepared intensely for a period and then returned to normal life. The weakness is treating preparedness as a one-time purchase. A resilient household is built through small actions that are reviewed twice a year.
Start with the hazards inside the room
Tall bookcases, wardrobes, televisions and heavy decorative objects can cause injury. Secure furniture correctly, move heavy items away from high shelves and avoid placing large mirrors, frames or storage above beds.
Simple cabinet catches can reduce falling glass and cookware in the kitchen. Children’s rooms and bunk beds deserve a separate review. Tenants should not simply conclude that they cannot make changes; discuss written permission and professional installation with the owner.
“We will go outside” is not a family plan
Every household member should know the answers to practical questions:
- Where are the safer positions in each room during shaking?
- Who checks gas and electricity after the shaking stops?
- What happens if the normal exit is unsafe?
- Who is the out-of-city contact if family members are separated?
- How will decisions be made if a child is at school and adults are at work?
- Where are the pet carrier, lead and emergency food?
Mobile networks may be congested. Explain that a short text message may succeed when a voice call does not. Every family member old enough to do so should memorise at least one useful number.
Walk the assembly-area route
Checking the nearest emergency assembly area through the official e-Devlet service is only the first step. Roads may be blocked, dark or crowded. Walk the route once and identify an alternative. If someone has limited mobility, measure the time at their real pace rather than assuming the map distance is easy.
An assembly area is not a reason to run outside during shaking. Protect yourself first, then assess the exit and follow official guidance.
Personalise the emergency kit
Standard lists cannot know that your household needs insulin, spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries, baby formula, menstrual products, pet food or a familiar toy that helps a child remain calm. Those details may matter more than another generic gadget.
Keep document copies in a waterproof folder and encrypted digital storage. Rotate water, food, medication and batteries on a six-month schedule. Small-denomination cash can be useful if electronic payment systems are interrupted.
Neighbours are part of the safety system
Knowing who has first-aid training, which older residents live alone and who may need mobility assistance can save time. Manage this information voluntarily and respectfully rather than creating an intrusive list.
Apartment boards should regularly check fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, stairways and exits. A staircase filled with shoes, bicycles and storage becomes a serious evacuation obstacle.
Practise with children without creating fear
Repeated disaster footage is not preparation. Use calm, simple language and short drills: stay away from windows, drop, cover and hold on. Practise with toys, talk about the school’s procedure and answer questions honestly.
Finish the drill and return to normal life. The purpose is to create confidence in uncertainty, not a permanent atmosphere of danger.
Choose two maintenance dates each year
Review the kit, medication, contact numbers, assembly route and furniture fixings twice a year. Update the plan after moving, a new family member, a change in health or a new school or workplace.
The best-prepared household is not the one with the most expensive equipment. It is the one where people know how to protect themselves, exits remain clear, neighbours communicate and the plan has been tested before it is needed.
A 72-hour household calculation
For two adults and one child, a simple three-day water reserve at 2 litres per person per day is 18 litres, before cooking or medical needs. Add shelf-stable food, prescribed medicines, spare glasses, a radio, lights, power banks, hygiene items, copies of documents and cash in small denominations. The bag is only one layer; furniture fixing, gas/electric shut-off knowledge and a family communication plan prevent more common injuries and confusion.
Run a ten-minute drill
- Everyone identifies a safe “drop, cover, hold on” position in each room.
- One adult checks the exit route without using the lift.
- The family sends one predefined message to an out-of-area contact.
- Children state who may collect them from school.
- Pet carriers, leads and food are checked.
Repeat the drill twice a year and after moving furniture. A plan that has never been practised is still a theory.
Building-level questions
Ask where the main gas, water and electricity controls are; whether emergency lighting works; how the management will account for elderly or disabled residents; and which assembly area is current. Keep DASK and optional home-insurance documents accessible, but remember insurance transfers financial risk—it does not strengthen the structure.
Official and useful links
