Home earthquake preparedness requires completing two tasks in advance: first, following National Fire Agency (內政部消防署) standards to pack an "emergency go-bag" (緊急避難包, covering 6 categories: water and food, medical and hygiene, warm clothing, ID copies and coins, lighting and communication, and tools) kept by the front entryway and inspected every 6 months; second, anchoring wardrobes, bookshelves, and TVs taller than 120 cm to solid wall studs or floor slabs using "L-shaped metal brackets" or "structural tension poles". When a strong earthquake of intensity 5-lower or higher strikes, a microcomputer gas meter automatically shuts off gas; after shaking stops, confirm there is no gas odor before pressing the reset button for 3 seconds. Based on public guidelines from the National Fire Agency, Central Weather Administration, and Energy Administration verified on 2026-11-07, this article summarizes the full checklist and anchoring methods.
National Fire Agency 6-category "emergency go-bag" checklist and 6-month inspection points
An emergency go-bag is not meant to hold everything you own; the rule is "a dual-strap backpack light enough to carry immediately, sustaining 1 to 3 days of basic survival and communication needs", placed right by the front entryway or bedroom door within immediate reach (never locked deep inside a storage closet), with one bag prepared for each family member. The table below organizes the 6 categories published by the National Fire Agency:
| Category | Essential item list | National Fire Agency details and 6-month inspection focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Emergency food and drinking water | At least 1 to 3 days of drinking water per person, biscuits, chocolate, vacuum-packed emergency rations, pull-tab canned food (requiring no can opener), energy jelly pouches | Choose room-temperature shelf-stable foods that require no cooking and do not cause thirst; check expiration dates every 6 months using a "first-in, first-out" rotation |
| 2. Medical and hygiene supplies | Povidone-iodine, sterile gauze, cotton swabs, adhesive bandages, thermometer, daily chronic prescription medications and copy of prescription slip, masks, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, tissue paper, feminine hygiene supplies | Keep at least a 3-to-7-day buffer of daily prescription medications (such as blood pressure, heart, or diabetes drugs) and rotate regularly to prevent moisture spoilage |
| 3. Warm clothing and protective gear | Lightweight windbreaker, underwear, socks, towel, disposable raincoat, aluminum Mylar thermal space blanket (compact and highly insulating) or small blanket, hand warmers, cut-resistant work gloves, sturdy closed-toe sneakers | Floors are often covered with shattered glass and fallen tiles after a quake; always keep a pair of thick-soled sneakers and cut-resistant work gloves beside your bed and go-bag, and never evacuate barefoot or in slippers |
| 4. Valuables and ID copies | Photocopies of ID card, National Health Insurance card, bankbook cover, and emergency contact card (sealed in a waterproof zip bag), plus a small amount of NT$1,000 and NT$100 bills and NT$10 and NT$50 coins | Major earthquakes often cause widespread power outages and cell tower failures that disable mobile payments and ATMs; coins work in public payphones and vending machines |
| 5. Lighting, rescue signaling, and communication | LED flashlight or headlamp (frees both hands while moving), spare dry-cell batteries, high-decibel rescue whistle, portable AM/FM radio, fully charged power bank and charging cables | When trapped or exhausted, blowing a whistle takes far less energy and carries much farther than shouting; store dry-cell batteries reversed or sealed separately and check every 6 months for leakage |
| 6. Other practical tools and special-group supplies | Swiss army knife (multi-tool), lighter, waterproof notepad and permanent marker, paper disaster map (and download the National Fire Agency "Fire & Disaster Prevention e-Point App" 消防防災 e 點通 App) | Households with infants add formula, bottles, diapers, carrier; seniors add reading glasses, hearing aid batteries, denture cleanser tablets; pet owners add leash, carrier, and 3 days of pet food |
Why do most earthquake injuries happen indoors? Comparing 4 furniture anti-tipping anchoring methods
According to National Fire Agency preparedness data, a large share of indoor injuries during strong earthquakes are caused by toppling wardrobes, bookshelves, and refrigerators, or falling TVs and overhead cabinet dishes. The right anchoring method depends on wall material and whether you own or rent:
| Anchoring tool and method | Suitable furniture | Drilling required | Proper installation technique and common mistakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. L-shaped metal brackets (L 型金屬鐵件) + expansion/structural screws | Tall bookshelves, tall wardrobes, sideboards, large display cabinets | Requires drilling (highest seismic pullout strength) | Fasten one leg of the L-bracket to the top structural frame of the cabinet (never thin backing board) and anchor the other leg into a solid RC reinforced concrete wall or the metal studs (C-channels) / wood framing inside a lightweight partition wall; screwing into hollow 9mm calcium silicate board alone will tear right out during a strong quake |
| 2. Floor-to-ceiling tension poles + front bottom non-slip wedges | Tall cabinets or refrigerators sitting 20 to 50 cm below the ceiling | Drill-free (ideal for renters) | Position poles at the rear left and right corners of the cabinet top, and ensure the ceiling above is a solid concrete slab; if the ceiling is a suspended wooden or light-steel T-bar ceiling, a tension pole will punch straight through the calcium silicate board with zero holding force. Pair with wedge-shaped rubber anti-slip pads under the front bottom edge |
| 3. Stacked-cabinet joining plates + seismic cabinet latches (防震拍拍鎖) | Two-piece stacked bookcases, overhead kitchen wall cabinets, glass display cabinets | Varies by model (adhesive and screw-in versions available) | Join stacked upper and lower cabinet sections on the sides with flat metal mending plates; fit overhead kitchen cabinets with "seismic auto-locking latches" or push-to-open latches and apply shatterproof safety film to glass doors so dishes cannot fly out |
| 4. TV anti-tip safety straps / VESA wall mount | LCD TVs, computer monitors, audio speakers | Uses TV stand bolt holes or adhesive base | Thread dual high-strength nylon safety straps into the standard VESA mounting screw holes on the back of the TV and bolt them to the rear of the TV console or wall to prevent forward tipping |
When arranging rooms, always follow the principles of "store heavy items on bottom shelves, light items on top" and "never place tall bookshelves beside the bedhead or bedroom doorway exit path" so a fallen cabinet cannot jam the bedroom door shut. To check recent earthquake activity and historical magnitudes around Taiwan, use the site's Taiwan real-time earthquake tracker tool; for how Central Weather Administration seismic intensity levels (such as 4, 5-lower, 5-upper, and 6-lower) correspond to shaking and Drop, Cover, and Hold On actions, read the site's guide to earthquake intensity levels and immediate response actions.
