A supercell thunderstorm above the horizon.

Safety learning collection

SAFETY QUIZZES

Disaster survival.

Practice the decisions that matter when severe weather, outages and other emergencies threaten your household.

20 QUESTIONS · NO TIMER

Put your knowledge into practice.

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1. A tornado warning includes your location. What should you do?

Take shelter immediately
Wait until you see a funnel
Go outside to check the sky
Finish errands before sheltering

Correct answer: Take shelter immediately

A warning requires immediate protective action. Use your designated tornado shelter.

2. You live in a mobile home in an area with tornado risk. Which plan is safest?

Use a room with the largest windows
Identify a nearby sturdy shelter before storms arrive
Rely on a parked car as the preferred shelter
Stay under the mobile home

Correct answer: Identify a nearby sturdy shelter before storms arrive

Mobile homes are unsafe tornado shelters. Arrange access to a sturdy building or designated shelter in advance.

3. An earthquake starts while you are indoors. What is the recommended action?

Run down the stairs
Stand beside a window
Drop, cover and hold on
Rush outside during the shaking

Correct answer: Drop, cover and hold on

Protect yourself from falling objects and stay inside while shaking continues.

4. Strong shaking begins while you are driving. What should you do?

Stop beneath an overpass
Accelerate across the next bridge
Park under large trees
Pull over safely away from overhead hazards and stay in the vehicle

Correct answer: Pull over safely away from overhead hazards and stay in the vehicle

Avoid bridges, overpasses, trees and utility lines when choosing a safe stopping place.

5. Thunder interrupts an outdoor gathering. Where should people shelter?

Inside a substantial building or enclosed metal-topped vehicle
Under an isolated tree
Under an open picnic shelter
Beside a wire fence

Correct answer: Inside a substantial building or enclosed metal-topped vehicle

Thunder means lightning is close enough to threaten you. Open shelters do not provide reliable protection.

6. When is it appropriate to leave lightning shelter?

As soon as rain stops
At least 30 minutes after the last thunder
Five minutes after the brightest flash
When the sky directly overhead clears

Correct answer: At least 30 minutes after the last thunder

Restart the waiting period whenever thunder is heard again.

7. Where should a portable generator operate during an outage?

In a garage with its door open
In a basement near a window
Outdoors, more than 20 feet from doors, windows and vents
On an enclosed porch

Correct answer: Outdoors, more than 20 feet from doors, windows and vents

Generator exhaust can carry deadly carbon monoxide into occupied spaces. Never operate one inside a home or garage.

8. Which device helps warn sleeping occupants about carbon monoxide?

A standard room thermometer
A smoke alarm without CO detection
An open bedroom window
A battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarm near sleeping areas

Correct answer: A battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarm near sleeping areas

Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled. Use CO alarms and follow their maintenance instructions.

9. The power goes out. What helps refrigerated food stay cold longer?

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed
Open the doors every few minutes
Move all food onto the counter
Turn off the refrigerator door seal

Correct answer: Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed

Closed doors reduce warming while you assess the outage and food safety.

10. You are unsure whether refrigerated leftovers stayed safe during an outage. What should you do?

Taste a small spoonful
Discard them rather than tasting to test safety
Rely only on their smell
Serve them cold to reduce risk

Correct answer: Discard them rather than tasting to test safety

Unsafe food may look or smell normal. Never taste food to judge its safety.

11. After working in extreme heat, a person becomes confused and collapses. What is the best response?

Wait for them to sleep it off
Have them continue walking
Call 911 and begin cooling the person
Give a large meal before seeking help

Correct answer: Call 911 and begin cooling the person

Confusion or collapse can signal heat stroke, a medical emergency. Start cooling while emergency help is coming.

12. Your vehicle becomes stranded in a winter storm. What is generally the safest choice?

Walk across unfamiliar fields
Follow distant lights on foot
Leave immediately without reporting your location
Stay with the vehicle and signal for help

Correct answer: Stay with the vehicle and signal for help

A vehicle provides shelter and is easier for rescuers to find than a person walking in poor visibility.

13. If you run a stranded vehicle engine for warmth, which check is essential?

Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow
Pack snow around the tailpipe
Close off every source of ventilation
Leave the engine running unattended

Correct answer: Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow

A blocked exhaust can allow carbon monoxide to build up. Follow winter vehicle safety guidance and conserve fuel.

14. Officials report a radiation emergency nearby. What is the basic protective action?

Drive toward the reported incident
Get inside, stay inside and stay tuned
Remain outdoors to watch developments
Open windows to improve circulation

Correct answer: Get inside, stay inside and stay tuned

A building provides shielding. Follow official instructions about sheltering and any later evacuation.

15. Where is a better place to shelter inside during a radiation emergency?

An open balcony
Beside an exterior doorway
A basement or the middle of the building away from windows
On the roof

Correct answer: A basement or the middle of the building away from windows

More walls and distance from outside surfaces can improve protection. Keep listening for official updates.

16. A wildfire evacuation order is issued for your neighborhood. What should you do?

Wait until flames are visible
Stay to photograph approaching smoke
Complete every household task before leaving
Leave promptly using the instructed route

Correct answer: Leave promptly using the instructed route

Do not let last-minute preparations delay evacuation. Conditions and escape routes can change quickly.

17. Which preparation makes wildfire evacuation with pets easier?

Have carriers, supplies and a transport plan ready
Assume pets can find their own way out
Wait to locate carriers until departure
Plan to return after leaving for your pets

Correct answer: Have carriers, supplies and a transport plan ready

Include animals in evacuation planning so you can leave promptly.

18. Water begins rising around a low-lying campsite. What should campers do?

Wait for water to reach the tents
Move promptly to higher ground by a safe route
Cross the fastest-moving channel
Stay beside the stream to monitor it

Correct answer: Move promptly to higher ground by a safe route

Rising water can cut off escape routes quickly. Avoid entering floodwater.

19. A flooded basement has submerged outlets. What is the safest action?

Wade in wearing rubber boots
Unplug appliances while standing in water
Stay out of the water and seek qualified help
Touch the water briefly to test it

Correct answer: Stay out of the water and seek qualified help

Floodwater may be energized. Do not enter rooms where outlets or cords are underwater.

20. You reach shelter with wet clothing during severe cold. What should you do?

Keep wet layers on to save time
Stand outdoors until clothing dries
Remove all insulation and remain uncovered
Change into dry clothing promptly

Correct answer: Change into dry clothing promptly

Wet clothing increases heat loss. Get warm and dry, and seek medical help for signs of hypothermia.

Educational practice. This quiz is not a certification or a substitute for hands-on training. For emergency assistance, call 911.

Guidance behind this quiz

Answers reviewed November 2026 against the following public guidance.