We used to be told to get under a doorway in an earthquake. Here’s why you shouldn’t
When an earthquake hits, it may be your first instinct to rush under a doorway.
However, this age-old safety tip is a “myth” among a list of don’ts during an active earthquake, Steven Goldfarb, USC’s director of fire safety, emergency management and business continuity, said in a 2019 Facebook video.
“People often ask, ‘Do we still go in a doorway for an earthquake?’” Goldfarb said.
Though it was “recommended quite some time ago,” it is no longer the recommendation, according to Goldfarb.
“The doorway doesn’t afford you any more protection than any other part of the structure that you may be in,” Goldfarb said.
Though “an interior door has special framing to strengthen the opening,” it is “no stronger than the wall it is set into,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency says.
In the event of a structural collapse, the interior door will not remain standing, FEMA says.
The advice to find protection below a doorway may have “originated in California early last century,” Adam Pascale, a seismologist with the Seismology Research Centre, said in a video shared to X, formerly known as Twitter, in August.
At the time, “adobe buildings were built with massive wooden entry door frames, and after strong earthquakes, the unreinforced structure crumbled, leaving only these doorways standing,” Pascale said.
While doorways were once reinforced with wood in masonry buildings, “today many door frames are not reinforced at all,” FEMA says.
“In modern buildings, doorways are no stronger than any other non-structural fittings, and they don’t provide protection from flying debris,” Pascale said.
Drop, cover and hold
So, to protect yourself during an earthquake, “it really comes down to that drop, cover and hold,” Goldfarb said.
“Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,” the Department of Homeland Security says. “If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.”
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.
“There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines,” officials say. “Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.”
Here are additional tips from experts:
If you’re in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you’re in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.
If you’re outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don’t go inside.
If you’re inside: Stay and don’t run outdoors.
This story was originally published September 16, 2024 at 10:12 AM with the headline "We used to be told to get under a doorway in an earthquake. Here’s why you shouldn’t."
