I’m trying to think this over logically, but I’m unable to come to a solid conclusion. Is it better to be on the top floor of a tall building during an earthquake or the bottom floor?
I would much rather be at the top.
Stuff falls down. If you’re at the bottom of a building, you’re apt to get hit by debris falling from the upper levels of the building, or its neighbors. Also, if the building has a “soft story,” (typically more open space than walls, such as an apartment building parking area) the entire building could collapse on top of you.
In most of those photos, the building was largely intact - just suddenly lower by a few feet. Anyone on that lower level would have been flattened, but people on other levels probably had plenty of time to find the cat and wait for rescuers to arrive with a ladder.
Bottom floor…so you can get the fuck out of the building!
Tall buildings are meant to sway in an earthquake, not collapse. The top floors, however, sway much more than the bottom floors (though the top floors also tend to decrease the sharp shocks). Try this: Hold a pen at one end at the bottom and wiggle it. Look how far the top of the pen is moving in relation to the bottom of the pen.
The top floors move A LOT more, so there’s more chance of getting thrown around, having furniture fall over, ceiling tiles come down, etc. The bottom floors are more subject to the sharp shocks of an earthquake, but your body will be moving the same direction as everything else. Barring getting squished, you’ll probably be all right.
If the (tall) building collapses, whether you’re on the top or bottom floor, you can KYAG.
Regarding a previous poster who said “… get out of the building”, let me assume he was joking, because going outside is EXACTLY the wrong thing to do if you’re in a tall building. Stay inside, get in a doorway or under a desk or table and ride it out. You’re much more likely to get hurt or killed outside from falling debris.
While I’m not an earthquake expert, I have lived in earthquake country my entire life, and experienced the Loma Prieta earthquake first hand.
J.
p.s., Something most non-earthquake country people don’t know: most locals don’t hang pictures on the walls by their bed. You don’t want a picture to fall on you if an earthquake hits while you’re sleeping.