Quick answer: strap the water heater first, then tall furniture and TVs, then latch the kitchen cabinets. It’s an afternoon of work with a stud finder and a drill, and it addresses the cause of most earthquake injuries.
The USGS puts the odds of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake within 30 years at 60% for the Los Angeles area and 72% for the San Francisco Bay Area [1]. What hurts people in those quakes is mostly what’s inside the house: a UCLA study of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, cited by the Southern California Earthquake Center, found 55% of injuries were caused by falling furniture or objects, and only 1% by building damage [2]. Securing your contents is the part you control.
At a glance
- M6.7 in 30 years, Los Angeles area
- 60% [1]
- M6.7 in 30 years, Bay Area
- 72% [1]
- M7.5 in 30 years, Los Angeles area
- 31% [1]
- Northridge 1994 injuries from falling contents
- 55% [2]
- Northridge 1994 injuries from building damage
- 1% [2]
How we chose
- Follows SCEC’s and Ready.gov’s checklists: water heater to the studs with two metal straps, top-heavy furniture and TVs secured, cabinet latches, and breakables held down [2][3].
- Maker-published ratings and approvals only; where a maker doesn’t list a weight rating we say so.
- Recall check: we searched the CPSC recall database on November 2, 2026 and found no recalls for these products. Several tip-restraint kits from other brands were recalled in 2025 and 2026, so check any kit you already own [9].
All five picks are from one maker, QuakeHOLD!, because it was the brand with complete, current product pages we could verify. Other brands’ straps can work as well; use the same checks.
Our picks
Best for: The first thing to strap in any California home
QuakeHOLD! Water Heater Strap, 80 Gallon (QS50)
A double-body strap that tightens from the front of the heater, so you don't have to reach behind the tank. QuakeHOLD lists IAPMO and State of California approvals for it.
- For water heaters up to 80 gallons; a 120-gallon version is sold separately [4]
- Quick Link system adjusts from the front [4]
- IAPMO listed, State of California accepted, City of Los Angeles approved, per QuakeHOLD [4]
Safety check: Approvals as claimed by QuakeHOLD. No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: QuakeHOLD's page doesn't list the strap material or wall hardware; anchor into studs, not drywall alone [2].
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Bookcases, dressers and tall cabinets
QuakeHOLD! Furniture Strap
Two nylon straps per kit, enough for one large piece, that screw into a wall stud and attach to the furniture without visible hardware.
- Two nylon straps per kit [5]
- Screws into a wall stud through a grommet [5]
- Five colors [5]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: QuakeHOLD doesn't publish a weight rating for this strap. For very heavy pieces, use a steel cable or a second kit.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: TVs on stands or dressers
QuakeHOLD! Universal Flat Screen Safety Strap
Holds a flat screen to the wall with nylon straps and adhesive steel plates, no drilling into the TV. SCEC notes falling TVs injure children every day.
- For flat screens up to 70 and 150 lb, per QuakeHOLD [6]
- Two 24 x 1 inch nylon straps, two steel plates with 3M adhesive [6]
- Includes wall stud screws and museum putty [6]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: QuakeHOLD's page doesn't say whether the 70 means inches or pounds; confirm the limit for your TV with the maker.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Kitchen cabinets with glass and dishes
QuakeHOLD! Kitchen and China Cabinet Door Latch (4 pack)
Lets doors and drawers open only about an inch, so contents stay inside during shaking. SCEC lists cabinet latches in its first step [2].
- 4 latches per pack [7]
- Limits opening to about one inch [7]
- Made in the U.S.A., per QuakeHOLD [7]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Install instructions and material aren't on the product page. Test that you can still open the cabinets easily every day.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Vases, frames and shelf collectibles
QuakeHOLD! Museum Putty
Holds small objects to shelves and comes off clean, which takes care of the breakables SCEC suggests moving or securing.
- Removable and reusable, per QuakeHOLD [8]
- Non-toxic, per QuakeHOLD [8]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: For small items only. It won't hold a TV or furniture.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Buying guide
- Water heater first. Two metal straps into the studs, per SCEC [2].
- Then anything tall or top-heavy: bookcases, dressers, TVs, refrigerators. Ready.gov lists all of these [3].
- Find the studs. SCEC’s guidance is to secure water heaters and furniture to wall studs [2].
- Move heavy items low, and move bookcases away from beds and sofas [2][3].
- Build a supply kit with food and water for several days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle, per Ready.gov [3].
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey: What is the probability that an earthquake will occur in the Los Angeles area? In the San Francisco Bay area?
- Southern California Earthquake Center, Earthquake Country Alliance: Step 1, Secure Your Space
- Ready.gov: Earthquakes
- QuakeHOLD!: Water Heater Strap, 80 Gallon
- QuakeHOLD!: Furniture Strap
- QuakeHOLD!: Universal Flat Screen Safety Strap
- QuakeHOLD!: Kitchen and China Cabinet Door Latch
- QuakeHOLD!: Museum Putty
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls database
Common questions
How likely is a big earthquake in California?
The USGS's UCERF3 forecast gives the Los Angeles area a 60% chance and the San Francisco Bay Area a 72% chance of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake within 30 years.
How should a water heater be strapped?
The Southern California Earthquake Center's guidance is to secure it to the wall studs with two metal straps. If it tips, gas and water lines can break; QuakeHOLD warns a ruptured gas connection can start a fire.
What should I do when the shaking starts?
Drop onto your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with one arm and hand, and hold on until the shaking stops. That's the Ready.gov guidance.