SURVIVING AN EARTHQUAKE

I just read the most helpful advice on how to improve your chances to survive an earthquake.

When buildings collapse, voids are formed next to large objects like desks or beds. Curl up in a foetal position at the foot of your bed, or lie down next to the desk (not under it) because large objects might compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

Do not stay in your car or even crawl under it. Rather, lie down next to it, because again, you have a better chance of a void forming around the vehicle.

Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

Large stacks of paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Ahhh, maybe I have finally found a postitive use for our 4,000 plus books collection!

Stay safe, be blessed and keep looking up!