What should I do if I am in a high-rise building during an earthquake?

What should I do if I am in a high-rise building during an earthquake?

Mark Benthien (Director of Communication, Education, and Outreach, Southern California Earthquake Center ) gives expert video advice on: What should I expect during an earthquake?; What should I do if I am driving during an earthquake?; What should I do if I am in a high-rise building during an earthquake? and more...

If you're in a high-rise building during an earthquake, you're likely to feel the building swaying more than intense shaking. It's because the buildings are designed to sway rather than break, and the taller the building is, the more it may be swaying during an earthquake. You want to immediately move towards the center of the high-rise building, towards an interior wall; drop, cover and hold on. You don't want to be near the windows of the building because as the building's swaying, you could get thrown out. Drop, cover and hold on. Once the earthquake stops, proceed to the nearest exit and go down the stairs. Don't take the elevators.