If there is an earthquake and you live in an apartment, do you stay in or go outside?
May 15, 2010
in
Earthquake Questions
We live on the ground floor of an apartment building in a big compound of other buildings. There are around 50 apartment buildings, all of them very tall. If an earthquake occurred, would it be safer to go outside (and take the chance of being smooshed by buildings) or stay inside (and risk being flattened by 11 floors)?
Please do not answer saying to ask authorities or whatever, because we live in China and don’t speak Chinese or anything.
Also, PLEASE don’t be rude.
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13 comments
datoli on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
There is no question of in or out during earthquake but people can take some safety masseurs.
there is no time for going out of the apartment or any other buildings and nobody knows when an earthquake will come to strike the buildings.
China is the happiest place to live on the earth because of the social society and their friendly cheapest cost of living. try ideas like a iron triangle. flat surface bottom and roof like on top the structure is sufficient to take the load of the collapsing building make your bed inside the triangle plates keep adequate water and food/medicine communicating equipments inside then you will be safe to some extent.
greengunge on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
how old is the building?
if less than 20 years old. then i would leave the building as it probably isnt built to earthquake standards. otherwise. you can stay in
I Am Responsible for Jonestown on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Make a mad dash for nearest biggest space as fast as possible, Somthing like a car park or a Park. If not, just stand under the door frame.
nikki on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
hmmm… difficult to say. If buildings are constructed properly, they will not crumble from an earthquake. China is still developing, so it’d really depend on your particular building. I wouldn’t risk it, and I’d go outside. But if you’re sure that you’re in a properly constructed building (which I personally wouldn’t believe), then it’s safer inside.
Liuzhou Laowai on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
If it were to happen, you wouldn’t have time to decide. Earthquakes usually only last for seconds and don’t hang around while you decided where you would prefer to be!
Dandydimmer on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I would definately stay indoors.
Bill on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVCNlW4EtAs
Moon M on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
i think both the ways contains huge risk,but i thnk to run outside is more safe coz 50 appartment building will destroy ground floor totally u shud find an open place.ur question makes me confused…if i was in ur place i may not thnk,coz what has written it will happen but u shud thnk coz u can actually face that prblm….
M on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
properly i would hide under a table , i will not try to escape or go out during the earthquake , maybe my chance of living will be more if am under something , but if i go out the chances of living is not that much, maybe something will fall over your head
check those links , maybe you’ll find the exact answer
http://www.ehow.com/list_5810973_earthquake-safety-tips-two_story-apartments.html
http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/aware/survival.html
Amelie on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
My experience is that there is no time to run outside. If the building is going to collapse it will probably do so before you can get out, or while you are trying to run out, which is more dangerous.
I live in Japan, and here they teach you to cover your head and hide under a sturdy piece of furniture. They say you have to open doors and windows, as they tend to jam shut, and to turn off the gas, but I don’t bother. I just sit under my table until it’s over. If it happens during the night, pull you pillow and or duvet over your head.
Grade Line on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
If it is possible, it is always better to be out somewhere else where there is no chance of anything falling on you during earthquake. Unfortunately, in most situations, people don’t have the time to do so as earthquake come unexpected and mostly last for a few seconds. Within the timeframe, you can’t almost do anything till its over. Just hope for the best when i comes,, pray is the best thing you can do then.
cmui1978 on May 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I guess I would …
- Hide under a table during the quake. It shouldn’t last that long. If the building collapes immidiately, you are unlikely to have a chance to escape from 17th floor anyway. So, hide under table to prevent being knock down by falling objects.
- Ran to some empty ground as soon as quake stops. You never know if the building’s structure is demaged or not during the quake and it may collapse. Especially, even if it survives the initial, there may be afterquake to collopse the building.
ANyway, just suggestion, and I don’t think I can be this clam if there is really a quake.
Arrin on March 27, 2011 at 8:32 pm
DO NOT STAND IN A DOORWAY! Whoever posted that is a complete idiot and if you had listened to them you would probably be dead. That is an old myth that has been proven wrong time and time again. What happens in earthquakes is that most structures dont just fall straight down they normally tilt slightly and collapse. If you are standing in the doorway you will get sliced in half. You should not try to run outside unless you are right by the doorway and can immediately escape outside. There are two competing theories out there and that is you either get under something VERY sturdy and solid or you lay down next to something very sturdy and solid. The danger here is if you climb under something sturdy and solid and it doesn’t hold the weight then you get crushed like a bug. In my opinion the best bet would be to lay down next to something sturdy and solid and when the debris falls down hopefully it will create a “triangle” and you will survive.