How to prepare for an earthquake

Earthquakes in Australia occur more often than you may think. On average, 100 earthquakes of magnitude three or more are recorded each year. Earthquakes above magnitude five – such as the destructive 1989 Newcastle earthquake – occur every one-to-two-years.¹

Although it’s almost impossible to predict when and where an earthquake will occur, there are still some steps you can do to prepare, including checking whether your home and contents insurance is up to date.

Review and update my policy

Check for hazards in your home

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) recommends the following steps to prepare your home for a potential earthquake:²

• Secure heavy or tall furniture to the walls – including shelves, cabinets, and bookcases.
• Store heavy and fragile items on lower shelves (under 1.5 metres).
• Store all chemicals, poisons, and flammable products in a secure cabinet with latches.
• Secure your water heater with a wide metal strap around the top and attach to wall studs.
• Check your roof annually for damage, including rust and broken or missing tiles.
• Keep an in-date fire extinguisher accessible in case of a fire during or after an earthquake.
• Familiarise yourself with how to turn off water, gas, electricity, and air-conditioning at your property.

Prepare an emergency kit

According to DFES, an emergency kit should include the following:

• plenty of water, non-perishable food, and can opener
• first aid kit and essential medication
• important documents in a waterproof container
• wallet, bank cards and cash
• extra clothes, toiletries and sanitary supplies
• portable phone charger and in-car phone charger, and
• battery-operated radio, torch and spare batteries.²

Create an emergency communication plan

It may be possible that family members are in different locations to one another during an earthquake – such as children being at school while parents are at work.

Make a plan to reconnect with loved ones by designating an out-of-town friend or relative least likely to be affected by the earthquake as the family’s primary point of contact.

Review your home and contents insurance

Check whether your home and contents sums insured is up-to-date and will meet your needs in the event of loss or damage. If you’re unsure how much cover you may need, we have an easy-to-use Building Calculator and Contents Calculator to help you estimate  the costs to rebuild your home or replace your contents.

You might also want to confirm that your home and contents insurance policy provides cover for earthquake damage. If you’re a GIO customer, you can find the relevant policy documents here.

All GIO Home Insurance policies include cover for earthquake and tsunami^#* as well as fire, bushfire^* and theft. We also help cover:

• temporary accommodation costs when you have home insurance and your home is damaged after an insured event and cannot be lived in
• storage of undamaged contents when we have accepted your contents insurance claim and your undamaged contents cannot be kept at your insured address, and
• other repair or rebuilding costs when your home needs to be repaired or rebuilt after insured damage, such as professional fees for architects or surveyors.

Limits, conditions, and exclusions apply, so please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details. To update your home and contents sum insured, use the GIO App or GIO Online Services.

Get a GIO Home & Contents Insurance quote

During an earthquake

If you’re inside during an earthquake, make sure to stay inside and follow the steps below:²

1. DROP to the ground.
2. COVER your head and neck with your arms and shelter under a sturdy desk or table. If there is no table, move to a corner or inside wall away from glass or heavy furniture that could fall over.
   
   If you’re seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward and cover your head and neck with both arms.
   
   
3. HOLD ON to your shelter and be ready to move with it until the shaking stops. Only exit the building once safe to do so.

If you’re outdoors, it’s recommended to stay outside and away from buildings or trees.

After an earthquake

Make sure to stay tuned to the information and updates provided by your state emergency or disaster management organisation.

Once safe to do so, check if your home and property has suffered any damage. If your home has been impacted by an earthquake and you’re a GIO policyholder, visit our Earthquake support page.

You can also easily lodge a claim via the GIO App or GIO Online Services.

Make a claim

Read more:

• What does GIO Home and Contents Insurance cover?
• Preparing for storm season
• How to make a home inventory for contents insurance

^# We do not cover loss or damage that occurs more than 72 hours after an earthquake or tsunami.

* We do not insure you for bushfire, storm, or flood in the first 72 hours of your policy. Very limited exceptions apply. Refer to the PDS for details.

¹ Geoscience Australia

² DFES

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as GIO. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. Go to gio.com.au for a copy. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.

The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information. Please make your own enquiries.