Hide Under Tables in Earthquakes (Drop Cover Hold)
During shaking, drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, get under a sturdy table only if it is close and safe to reach, then hold on as the table moves. Keep the route clear before an earthquake. If no suitable cover is nearby, stay where you are and protect your head and neck.
A safe place to take cover is planned in advance, not assembled while the ground is moving. I start by looking for a sturdy table that people can reach quickly and use without shifting other furniture. Reusing a suitable table you already own can also avoid an unnecessary purchase, but appearance and low cost do not prove that it will protect you.
FEMA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) advise people to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” A table can provide cover from some falling objects, but it is not a structural refuge. There is no universal table size, material, or strength rating that makes one earthquake-proof.
Planning: Choose a Reachable, Sturdy Table
A useful cover spot combines a stable table with a safe, short approach. Choose one away from windows and likely falling hazards, then check its condition and the space around it. The goal is a place you can use at once, not a table that looks strong or has been modified without testing.
Look for a table that is stable and in good repair. Check for loose joints, cracks, wobble, damaged legs, or a glass top. A table’s strength depends on its design, condition, joints, and what is on it. Do not assume a particular material or leg style gives a known level of protection.
Consider the people who may need to use it. A child, older adult, or person with limited mobility may need a different location or more room to get down and cover their head and neck. There is no universal under-table clearance: each person must be able to enter, take cover, and hold on without becoming trapped.
A table is not a structural shelter. It could tip or break, or falling debris could overwhelm it. Do not cross an exposed room during shaking to reach one. If it is not safely within reach, drop where you are and protect your head and neck.
| Check | Better sign | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Table stands firmly and does not wobble | Loose joints, damage, or a glass top |
| Location | Away from windows and likely falling hazards | Near shelves, tall furniture, or hanging objects |
| Access | Route is clear and the user can get beneath it | The table is across an exposed room or blocked |
| Use | User can cover head and neck and hold on | Fit requires forcing entry or moving furniture |
Planning example: In a living room with a sturdy table near the seating area, I would check whether each person can reach it without passing a large window or tall bookcase. If someone would need to cross the room, I would plan for that person to drop nearby and protect their head and neck instead. This is a planning example, not a tested safety result.
Access and Clearances: Keep the Approach and Space Beneath It Unobstructed
The approach is the route from where someone may be to the table. Keep it open, and keep the space below the table free of stored items. Because people and furniture differ, no single clearance guarantees a safe fit; test the actual route and position for each intended user.
Move boxes, chairs, cords, and other trip hazards out of the route. Do this before an earthquake, not during one. Check that people can lower themselves, reach cover, and hold on without first moving a chair or pulling items from beneath the table.
Accessibility dimensions can help with general planning, but they are not earthquake shelter standards. Where the 2010 ADA Standards apply, section 305 specifies clear floor space of at least 30 by 48 inches. Section 403.5.1 generally sets a 36-inch minimum accessible-route width, subject to stated exceptions. Neither figure defines the space required under a table during an earthquake.
Measure and test the actual space rather than relying on a label or a standard dimension. Ask each intended user to practice getting into position. If a person cannot safely get beneath the table, identify a nearby place where they can drop and cover their head and neck. Do not make a tight fit the only plan.
Keep the table’s legs accessible. People need to hold on as the table moves, and clutter can make that harder. Avoid storing heavy objects on or above the table if they could fall during shaking.
Execution: Prepare the Area—Do Not Build an Enclosure
Preparation means keeping the cover spot usable and reducing nearby hazards. Do not add panels, curtains, doors, seals, or insulation around the table. An ordinary open table has no required ventilation rate, and enclosing it could block access or trap someone.
Secure nearby tall furniture and heavy objects with suitable restraints installed as directed by their manufacturer. This can reduce hazards around the cover spot, but it does not turn a table into a tested protective system. Keep the table itself accessible, and do not reinforce or anchor it on the assumption that this makes it earthquake-proof.
There is no building-code dimension, material specification, seismic load rating, or occupant-protection rating that universally qualifies a household table as an earthquake shelter. The International Building Code, International Residential Code, and ASCE/SEI 7 address building construction and seismic design, not household-table performance. The applicable code editions depend on local adoption.
Planning example: In a small office, the nearest table may be surrounded by rolling chairs and storage bins. I would clear a direct approach, keep the space beneath the table free, and secure nearby tall storage using suitable manufacturer-specified restraints. If the table remains hard to reach, I would not treat it as the only cover option.
Verification: Rehearse, Inspect, and Follow Drop-Cover-Hold Guidance
A brief practice helps reveal blocked routes and fit problems before shaking starts. Recheck the table and surrounding area from time to time, especially after moving furniture or changing who uses the space. During an earthquake, follow official guidance: drop, cover, and hold on if the table is safely reachable.
Use this sequence during shaking:
- Drop to your hands and knees. This position helps you avoid being knocked down and lets you move toward cover if it is close.
- Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand while you move under the table, if you can do so safely.
- Hold on to the table with your other hand. Be ready to move with it if it shifts.
- If no suitable table is close, stay where you are, drop, and protect your head and neck.
- After shaking stops, check for hazards and follow local emergency guidance.
Practice the sequence without rushing. Confirm each person can reach the planned spot, fit beneath the table, protect their head and neck, and hold on. Do not make anyone cross a room or pass a likely hazard to reach cover.
Practice scenario: If shaking begins while you are beside the table, drop, cover, and hold on. If you are across the room near a window, do not run to the table. Drop where you are and protect your head and neck. The safest action depends on where you are when shaking starts.
Recheck for loose joints, new damage, clutter, and changes to the route. A table that was stable before a move or repair may no longer be suitable. If you are unsure about a table’s condition or strength, do not assign it a protective capacity; seek an appropriate professional assessment rather than relying on a DIY modification.
Conclusion
A suitable table is one nearby, stable, and usable by the people who may need it. Keep the route and space beneath it clear, prepare the surrounding area, and practice the action. A table can offer cover from some falling objects, but it is not a certified refuge or a guarantee of safety.
The key next step is simple: choose a reachable spot, test access for each person, and rehearse what to do if shaking starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers focus on choosing and using a table as part of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” No table size or household modification guarantees protection. Follow local emergency guidance, and make a plan that fits the people and layout in your home or workplace.
Should I get under a table during an earthquake?
Yes, if a sturdy table is close and safe to reach. Drop, cover your head and neck, get beneath it, and hold on as it moves.
What if the table is across the room?
Do not cross an exposed room during shaking to reach it. Drop where you are and protect your head and neck.
How large should a table be?
There is no universal size that qualifies a table as an earthquake shelter. Check whether each intended user can get beneath it, take cover, and hold on.
Does the table need to be a certain material?
No universal material specification makes a household table a certified refuge. Condition, design, joints, and loading all matter, and they do not establish a protective capacity by themselves.
Should I anchor or reinforce the table?
Do not treat anchoring or DIY reinforcement as proof that a table is earthquake-proof. Keep nearby tall furniture and heavy objects restrained as their manufacturers direct.
Can I store items under the table?
Keep the space beneath it clear so people can get into position without moving objects. Clutter may obstruct access or interfere with holding on.
Do ADA clear-space dimensions define the space under a table?
No. Where applicable, the 2010 ADA Standards give dimensions for clear floor space and accessible routes. They do not set earthquake shelter dimensions.
Should I add a curtain or panels around the table?
No. Do not enclose it. Panels, curtains, doors, or seals can obstruct access or create an entrapment hazard.
What if the table has a glass top or wobbles?
Do not assume it is suitable. Look for a stable table in good repair, and choose a different nearby place to drop and protect your head and neck if needed.
How often should I check the cover spot?
Recheck it after moving furniture or changing the room’s use, and periodically inspect the table for damage, loose joints, wobble, and blocked access.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Richard Montclair. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
