What to do in an earthquake if you live in an apartment?

During an earthquake

1. Stay inside.
2. Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture.
3. Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects.
4. 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.

What to do if you are upstairs during an earthquake?

Drop, Cover and Hold under a desk or table. If there’s no table around, find the nearest safe place beside an inside wall or lower than furnishings. If outside and in an open area, sit down and cover your head with your arms. If in “the danger zone”, next to building, try to get back into the building for shelter.

Is it better to stay 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.

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.

What is the safest thing to do during an earthquake?

Stay away from outer walls, windows, fireplaces, and hanging objects. If you are unable to move from a bed or chair, protect yourself from falling objects by covering up with blankets and pillows. If you are outside, go to an open area away from trees, telephone poles, and buildings, and stay there.

Which floor is safest in earthquake?

If the building collapses in on itself during an earthquake, the safest floor would be on top. But if the structure does not collapse, the ground floor may be safer because it will move less (experience less shaking).

How to stay safe during an earthquake in an apartment?

According to research, the safest place to be in an apartment during an earthquake is under something sturdy, such as a table, that can protect you from falling objects and debris. Try to cover your face, head, and neck using one hand and use the other one to hold onto your shelter firmly.

What should you do if you are in an earthquake?

If you can’t find a piece of sturdy furniture, crouch in an inside corner of the apartment and use your arms to cover or face and head. Stay away from windows, outside doors, outside walls and anything that could fall. Stay inside until the shaking stops.

Is it safe to live in an earthquake-prone area?

If you live in an apartment in an earthquake-prone area, it is a good precaution to learn where the safest spot is when a major earthquake hits. You should examine your home beforehand so you are aware of what dangers are presented in each room, and so you can react more quickly when the time comes.

What should you do if your house starts shaking?

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. HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops.