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Stay inside. Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture. Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects. Hold on to the object that you are under so that you remain covered.
Is it safe to be in an apartment during an earthquake?
Stay Inside Your Apartment Modern apartments are designed to withstand earthquakes, and the chances of them collapsing are very small. As we mentioned before, the safest spot is under something sturdy, because you’re more likely to be injured or killed by debris.
Where is the safest place to be in an apartment during an earthquake?
The safest places to hide in are the basement, the bathroom, or the hallway at the lowest level of the building. You can also go inside a closet or under the stairs or sturdy furniture for cover.
Will my apartment collapse in an earthquake?
This type of apartment building design is prone to structural failure and collapse during earthquakes if not built to modern building code. Such buildings collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, including one apartment building where 16 people died.
Is it better to be upstairs or downstairs in an earthquake?
In major earthquakes, it is usually safer upstairs than being on ground level. It can be dangerous trying to run hastily downstairs.
What to do if you live in an upstairs apartment during an earthquake?
Stay inside. Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture. Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects. Hold on to the object that you are under so that you remain covered.
What to do in an earthquake if you live in a condo?
During the Earthquake Keep calm and duck, cover, and hold under a desk or table until the shaking subsides. Drop on your arms and knees and hide under the sturdiest table in your condo unit. Try to relax but watch out for anything that can fall on you.
Do you stand in a door during earthquake?
DO NOT stand in a doorway: An enduring earthquake image of California is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. You also may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. You are safer under a table.
What shouldn’t you do during an earthquake?
STAY CLEAR of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. GET OUT of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). DON’T run downstairs or rush outside while the building is shaking or while there is danger of.
Is it better to be on the top or bottom floor during an earthquake?
If you’re worried about evacuation, or hurting yourself trying to get down stairs during an aftershock— which is the likeliest way to get hurt in a moderate quake—, be on the bottom.
How do you know if an apartment building is earthquake safe?
Using the Department of Building and Safety website, you can easily check to see if your building is on that list. Just enter your address into the search tool and click on the “Soft-story Retrofit Program Information” button once your building’s information appears.
Do buildings collapse in earthquakes?
Most collapses that occur during earthquakes aren’t caused by the earthquake itself. Instead, when the ground moves beneath a building, it displaces the foundation and lower levels, sending shock waves through the rest of the structure and causing it to vibrate back and forth.
Are high-rise apartments safe in earthquakes?
The high rise building in the example is safer not because of the advanced technology but because of the engineering design involved in building both structures. Irregular buildings and buildings with soft stories have a high chance of collapse in the event of an earthquake.
What are three things you should not do during an earthquake?
What not to do in an earthquake Do not run outside. Do: Shelter in place using Drop, Cover and Hold On. Do not get in a doorway. Do: Shelter in place under a table. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. Do not make phone calls. Do: Text.
Should you stay in bed during an earthquake?
Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures, or furniture. If you’re in bed when the earthquake strikes, stay there. If you are under a heavy light fixture or window, move to the nearest safe place like under a desk or in the corner.
Why do earthquakes make a boom sound?
High-frequency vibrations from the shallow earthquake generate the booming sound; when earthquakes are deeper, those vibrations never reach the surface. Sometimes the earthquakes create booming sounds even when no vibrations are felt.
Is balcony safe during earthquake?
Why not just run from a building during an earthquake? Because, says seismologist Lucy Jones, “the first thing to fail in a building is the outside, so you have balconies falling off and facades falling off. Even if the outside edges of a building collapse, the building can largely remain standing.
Should you go outside during an earthquake?
DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake. You are less likely to be injured if you stay where you are. To reduce your chances of being hurt, take the following actions: Broken glass on the floor can cause injuries if you walk or roll onto the floor.
What should you do in the event of an earthquake?
What to Do During an Earthquake Stay calm! If you’re indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame.
