Do you know what to do in an earthquake? Experts debunk common myths

There is no doubt that everyone needs to be prepared for an earthquake, but when the tremors begin, there are many misconceptions about where to seek shelter.

Experts clarify what to do and what not to do during an earthquake.

You may have heard in the past that the best place to stand during an earthquake is under a door, but that’s not true.

“The way buildings and houses are built today, the safest place to be is probably the middle of a house, away from windows or anything that might fall on your head,” said Derek Lambeth, program manager for the California Earthquake Early Warning Program.

Experts say: If you feel the earth starting to shake, here’s what you should do.

“The first thing you should do if you receive a warning or feel the shaking of an earthquake is to drop, hide and hold on – preferably under something stable,” Lambeth said.

Also note that the first shock you feel may not be the biggest, nor may it be the last.

“A misconception is that ‘I felt the big push, the next one will be much weaker than the big one I felt,’ and that’s not always the case. Unfortunately, earthquakes are unpredictable, so there’s a chance you’ll experience the first big earthquake.” “I had a feeling there could be another one that was as big or bigger,” Lambeth said.

Earthquakes that occur in certain weather conditions are another common myth that experts want to debunk.

“Not real, but everyone has a pattern of it,” said seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. “People love patterns. When we are afraid, we try to find a pattern that allows us to find a way to be safe. The more afraid we are, the more likely we are to believe in a false pattern, something that “It’s not actually real.”

All experts agree that you should be prepared by having an emergency kit ready, checking local alerts and downloading the MyShake app.

WATCH: How to Make Your Own Earthquake Kit