Calif. Earthquake Authority gives earthquake safety tips

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The recent Napa earthquake was a reminder that this is earthquake country.

The people at the California Earthquake Authority want Bay Area residents to remember just what to do when the next big one hits.

The next San Francisco earthquake can happen just like that, said Dean Reese, CEO of Ready America. In the next quake, you need to protect yourself and protect your head.

"You're not to run to your kids room," Reese said. "In the Northridge earthquake, people broke their shoulders, broke their legs. You want to make sure you protect yourself by dropping and covering your head and hold on to anything you can."

Another tip, Reese said, is to secure items that might fall in a quake. "What comes crashing down might just be the thing that hurts you most," he said.