Structural steel is one of the most ductile materials, while brick and concrete are low-ductility materials. Researchers have also developed creative solutions that show how structural steel is not the only earthquake-resistant material worth considering.

Building a structure to withstand seismic waves starts with the right materials with the right properties, and steel is by far the most widely used material for building earthquake-resistant buildings. According to the World Steel Association, ductile buildings are safer as they dissipate energy from seismic waves.

Earthquake-resistant construction requires that the building be properly grounded and connected through its foundation to the earth. Building on loose sands or clays is to be avoided, since those surfaces can cause excessive movement and nonuniform stresses to develop during an earthquake.

Shear walls, cross braces, diaphragms, and moment-resisting frames are central to reinforcing a building. Shear walls are a useful building technology that helps to transfer earthquake forces.

Buildings cannot be made earthquake-proof, only earthquake-resistant. Because the majority of old houses are built with wood frames, a relatively flexible construction method, they can sway in an earthquake like a palm tree in a stiff breeze.

Built according to good practices, concrete homes can be among the safest and most durable types of structures during an earthquake. Homes built with reinforced concrete walls have a record of surviving earthquakes intact, structurally sound and largely unblemished.

How can I determine my earthquake risk? A. Interactive hazard maps are available from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) at its My Hazards Awareness Map website on the “Earthquake Risk” tab. Then enter your address into the map search field at the top of the page.

Fortunately, most of us live in wood-frame houses. In contrast, a brittle structure is unable to deform during an earthquake without collapsing. In an earthquake, your wood-frame house might survive, but your chimney, made of brick not reinforced with rebar, might collapse.

Because shorter buildings are stiffer than taller ones, a three-story apartment house is considered more vulnerable to earthquake damage than a 30-story skyscraper.

Sudden shifts in the ground can crumble brick foundations and walls, leaving the upper part of the structure without support and collapsing the entire building. A wooden building is less likely to collapse, but it can during a strong quake if: It is poorly constructed. Parts of the structure are rotted.

During An Earthquake Stay calm. If you’re indoors, FEMA recommends that you “drop, cover and hold on.” Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, hold on and wait it out. If you can’t find a piece of sturdy furniture, crouch in an inside corner of the apartment and use your arms to cover or face and head.

When people “hear” an earthquake, they typically don’t hear the seismic waves at all. Rather, they discern the sound produced when seismic waves move through solid matter — such as the rumbling of a building and its contents. You wouldn’t hear the earthquake from the aircraft, and you certainly wouldn’t feel it.

The safest places are under tables or against walls. Stay away from windows! Shattered glass can cause extensive injuries. If you are exposed during an earthquake, cover your head with your hands.

If you are indoors: “DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON” Stay inside. Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture. Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects. Hold on to the object that you are under so that you remain covered.

Don’t hide under the bed If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. The bed will hold up some of the debris, creating a safe void around the perimeter. Never get under it, and teach your children never to crawl under the bed in an earthquake.

If the building is going to collapse then there is no safe floor to be on, although the uppermost floor does increase your chances of survival. If the building were to stay standing after the earthquake, then evacuation will be easier from the first floor than from any other floor (except the ground floor).

The strongest room in the house is usually the smallest room, on ground level, without external windows and the safest place to shelter during severe storms.