A series of recent earthquakes in Southern California including Monday's 4.4 magnitude quake near Highland Park have many people wondering what is the best thing to do.

It depends on whether you are inside, outside, or driving when things start shaking. Here is a list from the United States Geological Survey on what you should do during an earthquake.

If you are inside when a quake hits, stay there. The best thing to do is get under a desk or table and hang on to it. The USGS calls it "Drop, Cover and Hold On!" If you can't get under a desk or table, move into a hallway or against an inside wall.

Stay clear of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. Get out of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place since things can fall on you.

Don't run downstairs or rush outside while the building is shaking or while there is danger of falling and hurting or being hit by falling glass or debris.

If you are outdoors, get into the open, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

If you are driving, stop but carefully. Be sure to move your car as far out of traffic as possible and do not stop on or under a bridge, overpass trees, light posts, power lines or signs. Once you've pulled over be sure to stay inside your car until the shaking stops. When it's safe to start driving again, watch for cracks in the road, fallen rocks, landslides, trees, and other debris from the quake.

If you are in the mountains, watch for falling rocks, landslides, trees and debris.

If you are near the ocean, be on the lookout for information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Tsunami Center.

The danger isn't over once the shaking has stopped. There could be aftershocks, landslides, fires and tsunamis.

The California Earthquake Authority has provided a post-earthquake checklist. Among the things you should do: