r/interesting • u/HomeNowWTF • 22d ago

NATURE Experiencing an earthquake in an airport

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u/duxpdx 22d ago edited 22d ago

Not from an earthquake zone are you? Core structural supports increase your chance of survival should a structure fail as things will fall around you and these other areas tend to create voids in debris because they are reinforced and provide structural support.

Edit: not door frames though as those are only applicable in very select types of structures and are the exception and not the norm.

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u/erossthescienceboss 22d ago

The “doorframes” advice is a myth.

People thought doorframes were magically super stable because of earthquakes in LA and San Francisco. When buildings are built out of stucco, they crumble — leaving wooden, flexible doorframes behind. In a fully wooden house, there is no benefit from a door frame (and you’re in about the safest structure you can be, because it will bend and not crumble.)

Your number one goal in an earthquake should be protecting your head and neck, unless you can IMMEDIATELY get outside (and protect your head and neck.) going outside is only advice if you’re in an unreinforced masonry building.

In modern residential construction, more people die from falling objects.

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u/CitizenHuman 21d ago

I believe another issue (but I could be wrong) is that while a doorway will still sway and could break, especially if the quake is moving in the same direction as the door jambs.

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u/OrigamiMarie 21d ago

Also loose heavy stuff like furniture might just slide through the doorway and not care that you're standing there.

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u/CitizenHuman 21d ago

We were taught to grab the legs of our desk