Diane,

Don and Bob's suggestions are all useful. Here are a few that might help your children:
I live in San Francsico Bay Area. Public school students in this community have periodic earthquake drills when they duck and cover, then go outside after shaking stops so teachers can make sure all students are OK while the school gas lines are inspected. (After a local earthquake several years ago two schools sent students home because gas was leaking.)

Your daughters are old enough to practice 'duck and cover' at home. You might ask them to choose several places in your house that would provide save cover, so they'll know how to protect themselves from fallling objects in any room. Sometimes wallhung decorative items and pictures fall during earthquakes, so hang those well away from beds, and secure tall furniture to a wall. Brick chimneys and exterior trim on homes sometimes are damaged by an earthquake, so as Don suggested, stay in an open area if outside. Learn how the schools in your area teach earthquake safety to their students, then give your girls the same information so they can practice at home what they will need to do if an earthquake occurs while they're at school. Some children are calmer than adults when earth and house shake if they know how to stay safe. -Mary C.