What is the safest place to hide during an earthquake

Move away from buildings, utility wires, sinkholes, and fuel and gas lines. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls of buildings. Go to an open area away from trees, telephone poles, and buildings. Once in the open, get down low and stay there until the shaking stops.

In major earthquakes, it is usually safer upstairs than being on ground level. It can be dangerous trying to run hastily downstairs.

Do Not get out of bed and lie next to or under the bed.

In the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in California, beds moved violently, hopping up and down and even pinning people to the wall. Stay in bed and cover your head with your pillow and hang on.

But experts have long warned the public against leaving a building and heading outdoors during a quake. The safest place to be as the earth moves is inside, protected from potentially crushing debris, drooping power lines, falling trees or building extremities that could crumble.

How can I determine my earthquake risk? A. Interactive hazard maps are available from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) at its My Hazards Awareness Map website on the “Earthquake Risk” tab. Then enter your address into the map search field at the top of the page.

Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. Again, you are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.

Remember, Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

Get down on the ground under a table or desk. Keep your emergency preparedness kit nearby so you’ll have the supplies you need. Keep clear of windows—glass may shatter from the shaking. Never stand under objects that can fall on top of you like a large bookcase.

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.

Generally, only seconds. Strong ground shaking during a moderate to large earthquake typically lasts about 10 to 30 seconds. Readjustments in the earth cause more earthquakes (aftershocks) that can occur intermittently for weeks or months.

If you are indoors: “DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON”

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.

today: 2.6 in Cobb, California, United States.

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.

Due to their rigid construction and limited capacity to absorb the energy of strong ground-shaking, these structures are at risk of collapse in an earthquake. In fact, non-ductile concrete buildings make up the majority of earthquake losses around the world.

If an earthquake happens, protect yourself right away:

If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow. If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings. If you are inside, stay and do not run outside and avoid doorways.

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.

In an earthquake, if you are on an upper story of a building, do not try to leave the building during the earthquake. … Taking cover is the only way to protect from falling debris, the main source of injury in an earthquake. You do not know when you first feel the shaking how large the earthquake will be.

Turn off the gas service shutoff valve typically located near the gas meter, if it’s safe to do so. Evacuate the building if leaking gas starts to burn. Do not try to put the flame out. Call 9-1-1 immediately and then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

When the shaking stops, it is important to stay calm and move cautiously, checking for unstable objects and other hazards above and around you. Check yourself and others for injuries and render first aid as needed.

While a powerful earthquake could be catastrophic, it’s important to note that it’s falling debris, and not the ground’s movement, that causes most injuries and deaths. Basements are safe during an earthquake, but you shouldn’t try to get there once the shaking starts.