What Should You Do During An Earthquake At Home?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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). Stay away from windows and outside doors. If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall.

Where should you go in your house during an earthquake?

  • DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. …
  • Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

What should I do 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 onto the object that you are under so that you remain covered.

What are three things you should not do during an earthquake?

  • DO NOT turn on the gas again if you turned it off; let the gas company do it.
  • DO NOT use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues, electrical equipment, appliances UNTIL you are sure there are no gas leaks. …
  • DO NOT use your telephone, EXCEPT for a medical or fire emergency.

Is it better to be upstairs or downstairs during an earthquake?

In major earthquakes, it is

usually safer upstairs than being on ground level

. It can be dangerous trying to run hastily downstairs. First of all, calm down and look around before you do anything.

Do and don’ts during earthquake?


DROP to the ground

; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. … Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, (such as lighting fixtures or furniture). Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes.

Where is the safest place during an earthquake?


COVER your head and neck

(and your entire body if possible) underneath a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

Which should you avoid after an earthquake?


Stay away from windows and outside doors

. If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay away from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on you). Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame.

Is a 4.5 earthquake strong?

Events with

magnitudes greater than 4.5 are strong enough to be recorded by a seismograph anywhere in the world

, so long as its sensors are not located in the earthquake’s shadow. The following describes the typical effects of earthquakes of various magnitudes near the epicenter. … Recorded by seismographs.

Can you hear an earthquake coming?

The low rumbling noise at the beginning is P waves and the

S waves’ arrival

is the big bang you hear. Peggy Hellweg: Earthquakes do produce sounds, and people do hear them. … The sounds the seismic sensors recorded are infrasonic, so Hellweg speeded them up so we can hear them.

Will my house collapse in an earthquake?

Fortunately, most of us live in wood-frame houses. In contrast, a brittle structure is unable to deform during an earthquake without collapsing. … In an earthquake, your wood-frame house

might survive

, but your chimney, made of brick not reinforced with rebar, might collapse.

What is the strongest part of a house?

The strongest room in the house is usually

the smallest room, on ground level

, without external windows and the safest place to shelter during severe storms. During a storm, stay well away from glass doors and windows, in case any flying debris crashes through the glass.

How can you tell if a house is earthquake resistant?

Look

in the crawl space and check that the walls of the house are anchored securely to foundation slabs

. Otherwise, the house will slide along the foundation slab during the earthquake and rupture utility lines.

What state has the most earthquakes 2020?


California

has more earthquakes that cause damage than any other state. Alaska and California have the most earthquakes (not human-induced).

Can you hide under your bed during an earthquake?

Don’t hide under the bed

If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. The bed will hold up some of the debris, creating a safe void around the perimeter.

Never get under it

, and teach your children never to crawl under the bed in an earthquake.

What size earthquake causes damage?

Magnitude Earthquake Effects 5.5 to 6.0 Slight damage to buildings and other structures. 6.1 to 6.9 May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas.
7.0 to 7.9


Major earthquake

. Serious damage.
8.0 or greater Great earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter.
Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.