Being trapped under rubble after a major earthquake is something nobody wants to think about. But knowing in advance what to do makes the right decision easier in that moment. There are two goals: keep your strength until rescuers arrive and let them know where you are.

First stay calm and check yourself

AFAD’s first advice is to check your situation without panicking. Can you breathe, are you bleeding anywhere, can you move your arms and legs? Slow, deep breaths reduce panic.

If your movement is restricted, AFAD warns you not to attempt moves that put your life at risk to get out. Pushing or pulling at the load above you can shift the debris. Keep your movements under control and use your energy sparingly; rescue can take hours.

Protect yourself from dust

A collapsed building fills the air with thick dust. The American Red Cross advises protecting your mouth, nose and eyes with a cloth, clothing or a dust mask. New York City Emergency Management’s guide also says to move as little as possible, because every movement kicks the dust up again.

Tap or whistle instead of shouting

Rescue teams listen for sounds coming from the rubble. Shouting continuously tires you out and makes you breathe in more dust, so the New York guide treats shouting as a last resort.

  • Tap: AFAD advises that, if you can use your hands and feet, you make your presence known by tapping on water, heating or gas pipes, or the floor. The Red Cross advises knocking loudly on a solid part of the building three times every few minutes. A sound repeated in a pattern stands out from random noise.
  • Whistle: A whistle makes a sharp sound that carries far with little breath and needs no battery. The Red Cross suggests keeping a dust mask and a whistle in a kit by your bed. Put a whistle in your emergency kit; the emergency whistle on your phone is only a backup.
  • Use your voice sparingly: AFAD advises that, if you can use your voice, you try to hear the rescuers and call out to them, but keep your energy under control. Call out or tap when you hear voices, machines or dogs outside.

Do not light a flame

Damaged buildings may have gas leaks. AFAD is clear: do not strike matches or lighters, and do not touch electrical switches. If you need light, use a flashlight or your phone’s light.

Use your phone as a lifeline

If your phone is with you, it is the strongest tool for telling people where you are, but its battery is limited.

  • Call or message 112. According to AFAD, phones should not be used except to report emergencies. When networks are busy, AFAD has advised using SMS and internet-based messaging apps so communication does not break down. A short message can get through more easily than a call that fails to connect: write your address, where you are in the building (floor, room) and who is with you.
  • Save the battery. On iPhone, Low Power Mode reduces screen brightness and turns off background activity; on Android, Battery Saver limits background activity. Close unneeded apps, dim the screen and check the phone at intervals instead of keeping it on all the time.
  • Use light sparingly. When you hear sounds nearby, the flashlight and SOS light can help. To make yourself heard, tapping and a whistle use no battery.

Prepare in advance

What you can do under rubble depends largely on what you did before the earthquake:

  • Keep a whistle, flashlight, dust mask and sturdy shoes next to your bed.
  • Keep your phone charging at night; get a portable charger.
  • Decide as a family who calls whom and where you meet in a family emergency plan; write the emergency numbers on paper too.
  • For how to protect yourself during the shaking, see the earthquake guide.

You can read how rescue teams search for people under rubble, and why they sometimes ask for “silence”, in our search and rescue article. Those quiet moments are when tapping and a whistle are heard best.