Wht do they say get in a doorway in an earthquake? and is it really safe there?

Question

Wht do they say get in a doorway in an earthquake? and is it really safe there?

Answer 1

doors are strong and steady unlike the walls which are hollow. and most doors are heavy and held in place by strong hindges. yes it is safe there.

Answer 2

Georock got it right pretty much but also doorways are strong from a structural stand point as well so if part of a building does collapse its less likely to be the doorway.

Answer 3

The roof or a floor above you is much more likely to collapse than a wall is. You can't stand in a wall but you can stand in the hole in it made by the doorway. This way you won't get hit if the roof or upper floor collapses. If the whole building collapses the doorframe might still protect you a bit

Answer 4

The safest place is outside away from anything that could fall. However if you are in a building and not close to an exit, the safest place is in a door way. The roof will be the first to go in most cases and the walls the last. Therefore you are in the safest spot because you are between ceilings being held by the walls.

Answer 5

Nobody has ever been killed by an earthquake, but lots of people have been killed by falling objects that fell because of an earthqauke. Usually a door frame is strong, and there is nothing over your head like lights and windows that could fall on you.

The safest place to be in an earthquake would be on open flat ground away from water, buildings, and power lines. But if you are in a building when an earthquake strikes, your best bet is to get into a doorway or under a sturdy table to minimize the chances of things falling on you, or at least have a chance of survival if the building collapses.

Answer 6

i concur with the first two answers.

Answer 7

As a doorway is made of a strong structural unit there is no harm in it falling on you and getting shattered like windows.