Knowing these earthquake myths may help keep you safe
We can’t predict when an earthquake will happen but given that we live in an earthquake zone—more than 1,000 occur on average in western Canada* every year, but most are too small to be felt—it’s likely we’ll experience one in our lifetime.
But by educating ourselves so we know what to do when the ground starts to shake, we can reduce our risk of getting injured. Here are the top 5 myths people think they should do during an earthquake and what you should do instead.
1. MYTH: During an earthquake, seek a doorway for protection.
While doorways have widely been thought of as an earthquake shelter area, they may not always provide adequate safety. Doors may swing during the shaking causing injury and it also may be difficult for you to remain standing. It’s also a myth that doorways are the strongest part of a structure, because in modern day construction the doorway is no stronger than the rest of the building.
If you begin to feel earthquake tremors, drop onto your hands and knees where you are, cover your head and neck with one arm and hand, ideally under a sturdy table or next to an interior wall if you’re inside. Then hold on to whatever is sheltering you if you can (e.g., table leg). If there’s no shelter, hold on to your head and neck with both arms.
2. MYTH: Turn off your gas after an earthquake.
After an earthquake, first check the connections, vents and/or chimney for each gas appliance to ensure they haven’t been dislodged, damaged or blocked. DO NOT turn your gas off at the meter or appliance unless you hear the hissing sound of escaping gas or detect a strong smell of mercaptan, an odourant (it smells like rotten eggs or sulphur) added to natural gas so a leak can be detected. Depending on the severity of an earthquake, turning off your gas would mean losing heat, hot water and possibly cooking abilities until a FortisBC technician can turn it back on.
3. MYTH: If you’re driving during an earthquake, immediately get out of the car.
Staying in your vehicle may protect you from falling objects such as trees, power lines and other debris. As well, once the shaking stops you can use the car radio to listen for any warnings or updates from officials. If you’re driving when an earthquake strikes, slow down and pull over so you’re not blocking the road and are away from bridges, overpasses, underpasses, buildings or anything that could possibly collapse. Stay in your vehicle until it’s safe. You should also keep an emergency grab-and-go bag ready in your vehicle.
4. MYTH: The chance of a building collapsing from an earthquake is high.
While the images of the devastation in Turkey and Syria are frightening, most buildings don’t collapse in an earthquake. Plus, since the early 1980s, building codes in BC have required construction materials to be ductile** (e.g., wood, structural steel and reinforced concrete) and that ductile construction methods (e.g., joint reinforcements) be incorporated to prevent a collapse in the event of an earthquake. It’s important to note, however, older brittle structures (e.g., unreinforced brick and/or masonry) that haven’t been retrofitted for ductility won’t perform as well in the event of an earthquake.
5. MYTH: If you’re inside a building when the shaking starts, run outside.
Do not run outside or to other rooms during shaking. The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be due to windows and facade. Also, if the shaking is strong enough you may not be able to move without falling and objects may fall on you. The best way to prevent injury is to drop, cover and hold on.
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