(WHTM) – When the ground starts to shake, the first reaction for many people is to panic. To help keep you safe, here is what you should do in the event of an earthquake like the one reported in New Jersey and felt in Pennsylvania.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in many situations regarding an active earthquake, you can protect yourself almost immediately. They say to drop down onto your hands and knees and cover your head and neck. If possible, position yourself under a sturdy table or desk.

If there is no shelter nearby, you can get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you. You should also try and avoid hanging objects, china cabinets, and other objects that have the potential to fall on you.

The CDC says that if you are inside a building during an earthquake, you should stay inside, and if you happen to be outside during an earthquake, you should stay outside.

If you need to stay outside, you should move away from buildings, utility wires, sinkholes and gas lines. One of the greatest dangers of being outside during an earthquake is falling debris just outside doorways and close to the outer walls of buildings.

If outside, go to an open area away from trees, buildings and telephone poles.

If you are in your car during an earthquake, you should stop as quickly and safely as possible. Move your car to a curb or shoulder away from utility poles, overhead wires, and underpasses or overpasses.

And make sure you turn on your radio for broadcast information.