Do you know what to do in the event of an earthquake? To enhance this knowledge and ensure public safety, the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) will once again promote the 13th edition of the Earthquake Risk Awareness Exercise, ‘The Earth Trembles’, on November 5.
This national and annual event, scheduled for 11:05 a.m., aims to “equip the population with the knowledge to act before, during, and after an earthquake,” as stated by the entity in a communiqué.
“For one minute, participants, individually or in groups (families, schools, businesses, public, private or associative institutions), are challenged to practice three self-protection gestures: Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, the entity emphasized.
In this context, ANEPC’s Regional and Sub-regional Commands for Emergency and Civil Protection, in partnership with educational communities, municipal civil protection services, fire brigades, and other civil protection agents, will conduct awareness actions about earthquake risk throughout the country.
“Thanks largely to the dedication of all, particularly the Directorate-General for Education (DGE) and the Directorate-General for Schools (DGEsTE), school participation has been significant, which is why the main event for this 13th edition will once again take place within the school community – specifically at the Professor Reynaldo dos Santos School Group in Vila Franca de Xira,” the organization pointed out.
It should be noted that all citizens or entities can register to demonstrate “their personal and institutional commitment to the cause of protection and safety, in the name of active and responsible citizenship.”
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) utilized its social media channels to remind the population of important measures to remember in the event of earthquakes, following the ‘The Earth Trembles’ exercise.
Notícias ao Minuto | 16:52 – 29/10/2025
So, what should you do in the event of an earthquake?
According to Civil Protection, if the earth shakes, you should protect “your home by identifying risks and securing non-structural elements (furniture),” as well as arranging “heavy or fragile objects on lower shelves or within closed compartments.”
“Keep beds away from windows and passageways clear in case of emergency,” “avoid placing heavy objects above beds,” and “protect fragile items with low-cost, easy-to-use materials” are additional recommendations provided by the entity.
Finally, secure “large or heavy elements that could become hazardous when loosened, and if you live in a high-risk area, reinforce the most critical elements.”
It is important to note that, according to the Richter scale, earthquakes are classified by magnitude as micro (less than 2.0), very small (2.0-2.9), small (3.0-3.9), light (4.0-4.9), moderate (5.0-5.9), strong (6.0-6.9), major (7.0-7.9), great (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9.0-9.9), and extreme (over 10).
