Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind in the period following an earthquake:

• Be prepared for aftershocks. Although they're usually smaller than the main quake, some may be strong enough to cause additional damage or bring down tottering buildings. 
• Check for injuries. Don't move a seriously injured person unless there is danger of further harm. Be prepared to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if someone has stopped breathing. Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound. Keep an injured person comfortable.  
• Put out any small fires (those no larger than a foot or so in diameter or height). If a fire is bigger than that, or if it is producing a lot of smoke, leave the building immediately, alerting your neighbors on the way out. Call the fire department from another location once outside your home. 
• Check for hazards. See if gas, water or electrical lines have been damaged. Also check appliances and disconnect them if they're damaged. If you smell gas or see a broken line, shut off the main valve. Then leave the building and don't return until a utility official says you can. Never search for a gas leak with a lighted match. 
• Be sure to wear shoes, especially in areas near fallen debris and broken glass.  
• Turn on your battery-powered radio for damage reports and local emergency information.
• Check for cracks and other damage. If you find extensive damage, get out immediately — an aftershock could bring the structure down.  
• Don't use the telephone. Lines are likely to be jammed, so you should avoid making calls unless there is a serious emergency.
• Make sure sewage lines are intact before using the toilet. Plug tub and sink drains to prevent sewage backup.
• Check food and water supplies. Assume drinking water has been contaminated. If you have no drinking water, use emergency supplies found in toilet tanks (not the toilet bowl), water heaters and melted ice cubes. Purify the water by boiling for 5 minutes and treating with 16 drops of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Let stand. If there is no smell of chlorine after 30 minutes, repeat dosage. If there is still no smell of chlorine after 30 minutes, discard.
• Clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline and any flammable materials. Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects falling off shelves.
• Cover broken windows with plywood or plastic sheeting.
• If you're away from home when an earthquake occurs, enter your home carefully. Check for structural damage. If anything looks dangerous or unstable, stay out of your home until it can be inspected by a professional.