Home & Garden Columns

Head For The Doorway? 

In the early days of California, many homes were made of adobe bricks with wooden doorframes. After a powerful earthquake, doorframes were sometimes the only parts of these houses still standing.  

From this came the myth that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. Today, few people in the Bay Area live in unreinforced adobe houses. In modern houses, doorways may be no stronger than any other part of the house, and do little to protect you from falling objects. If the doorway is a “cased opening,” that is, has no door, then you may be fine in this area. You are safest under a table, so “drop, cover, and hold on.” 

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.