Q&A for How to Deal With Being Indoors During an Earthquake

Actually, contemporary steel building are designed to withstand earthquakes as they are built more flexible, so they move in an earthquake. While a moving building sounds bad, it's actually a good thing because a rigid building like a concrete building is actually more susceptible to breaking than one that moves. Think about a spaghetti noodle. If you hold a dry one stretched out between two hands and someone pushes on it, it's going to break because it's rigid and brittle. If you stretch out a cooked noodle and someone pushes on it, it might still break, but it's going to withstand more pushing because it's more flexible.

No. A basement and closet are not safe. Both can cave in during an earthquake. Get under a sturdy table or chair, if you can, and stay there until the shaking stops.

Get to an interior wall away from windows, and get on your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck with both arms.

Hollywood is not a fan of checking science. Many movies set unrealistic expectations of walking ability during natural disasters, but it's all for the entertainment aspect. What's the fun in seeing people sit in a corner for a few minutes? Enjoy the film for its fantasy but don't use it as your everyday guide to safety.

Whether stairs collapse is determined by the materials they are made out of. However, it's a good idea to not try to use stairs during an earthquake.

Yes, it is safe to hide under a bed. Wood and steel are relatively strong materials, but the possibility of them breaking, no matter how small, is not nil. Therefore, try to have a backup plan even if you find a safe place.