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KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
16. Standing in doorways is not really best practice
Wed Jan 30, 2013, 02:36 PM
Jan 2013
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/Earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes_myths.aspx

The safest place to be in an earthquake is under a doorway. That's true only if you live in an unreinforced adobe home. In a modern structure the doorway is no stronger than the rest of the building. Actually, you're more likely to be hurt (by the door swinging wildly) in a doorway. And in a public building, you could be in danger from people trying to hurry outside. If you're inside, get under a table or desk and hang on to it.


I have heard a possibly apocryphal tale from the San Fernando quake of '71. A group of people were in a high-rise when the quake hit. Panic ensued. Then someone said, "I'm from San Francisco. We stand in a doorway."

Someone else piped up, "I'm from Portland, Oregon. Where do we stand?"
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