After the earthquake, the California government immediately sent a search and rescue team of 300 people to the disaster area to carry out emergency rescue. These rescue teams are equipped with high-tech monitoring instruments and video equipment, which can go deep into the cracks in the ruins to shoot. Rescuers used these advanced equipment to rescue many trapped and injured residents.

On the day of the earthquake, President Clinton signed a document to provide more than $400 million in federal emergency assistance to the disaster area, and sent a special team to the disaster area to deal with the aftermath of disaster relief. The American Red Cross has set up a 18 shelter in the worst-hit Beiling area to distribute tents, food, clothes and other daily necessities to the victims.

After the earthquake, the authorities also organized a large number of experts to evaluate the feasibility of undamaged buildings, and blocked more than 10000 dangerous houses for demolition.