What happens if you stand outside during an earthquake?

If you are outside, stay outside. 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. Stay away from this danger zone.

What do you do in the open field during an earthquake?

If you are OUTSIDE — get into the OPEN, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you. If you are DRIVING — stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. DO NOT stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs.

What causes the most damage during an earthquake?

The destructive effects of earthquakes are from landslides, tsunamis, fires, and fault rupture. The violent shaking of the ground produces the greatest property losses and personal injuries.

What are the main causes of damage and death during earthquakes?

Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related injuries result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects as a result of the ground shaking, or people trying to move more than a few feet during the shaking.

Is an open field safe during an earthquake?

A person standing in an open field in an earthquake will almost certainly be safe. Nearly all earthquake danger is from buildings falling, roadways collapsing, or from the fires and tsunami that come after the shaking stops.

Should I stand in a doorway during an 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.

Can an earthquake hurt you in an open field?

And even if you do, it may not be safe to move. Still, it’s worth noting that the safest place to be during a quake is in an open field where nothing can fall on you. Remember that the quake itself will not kill you. It’s not the earthquake itself that poses a danger, but the falling objects or collapsing structures.

Is it safe to be in an open field during an earthquake?

Which waves cause damage during an earthquake?

There are two types of surface waves: Love and Rayleigh waves. Love waves move back and forth horizontally. Rayleigh waves cause both vertical and horizontal ground motion. These can be the most destructive waves as they roll along lifting and dropping the ground as they pass.

What kills people in a building collapse?

In masonry buildings, a primary cause of death is often suffocation from the weight and powder of wall or roof material which buries the victim. Suffocation is also a real danger to those trapped inside reinforced concrete structures from the large amount of dust generated by collapse.

How long does an earthquake usually last?

about 10 to 30 seconds
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.

How do earthquakes affect buildings?

How do earthquakes affect buildings? Ground shaking is the primary cause of earthquake damage to man-made structures. Many factors influence the strength of earthquake shaking at a site including the earthquake’s magnitude, the site’s proximity to the fault, the local geology, and the soil type.

What happens to people standing on fault lines during an earthquake?

So, statistically speaking, most people standing on fault lines during earthquakes will survive because most earthquakes are small. Most people who die in earthquakes do so because something falls on them. If you are outside or in a building built to earthquake codes (most buildings le…

What factors influence the strength of earthquake shaking at a site?

Many factors influence the strength of earthquake shaking at a site including the earthquake’s magnitude, the site’s proximity to the fault, the local geology, and the soil type.

Can the ground open up during an earthquake?

Can the ground open up during an earthquake? Shallow crevasses can form during earthquake-induced landslides, lateral spreads, or from other types of ground failures, but faults do not open up during an earthquake.