Wood-framed single story homes are some of the most seismically safe (by virtue of flexibility) structures.

Unreinforced masonry structures, tilt-up concrete buildings, and the like are far more dangerous. California has a lot of legacy tilt-up concrete structures in industrial and commercial zones.

Residences are probably more vulnerable to the resultant gas leak fires than the quake itself.

A framed house is about the safest building you can be in in an earthquake. They are small enough that they just flex with the earthquake.

It's masonry buildings that are the most dangerous.

Either way, you should not be trying to exit a building during an earthquake because the greatest risk is debris falling on you, not the building collapsing on you.

In fact, framed houses are so safe that the current advice is that if you are in bed when an earthquake occurs, you should stay in bed. You are more likely to get hurt trying to get out of bed and find cover.

Depends on construction and earthquake size. Many frame houses have collapsed in an earthquake and the risks increase dramatically with building height.

In the Loma Prieta earthquake some of my co-workers exited building while dodging ceramic tiles coming falling off the roof. Then gathered under the power lines on the far side of the parking lot. Being a modern wood and steel framed building it was better to stay inside.

Also heard stories in the SF financial district of large glass windows popping out and falling into the street below.

Best time to sort out what to do is before the earthquake.

Are you sure that's good advice? It makes common sense but technically the advice is to stay indoors afaik

Would you rather be in an open field of a place with things above you?

The reason to stay indoors is if you're in a city or next to buildings where glass and shrapnel could fall on you. If you have open space outside, then that is a much better place to be.

You generally don't have enough time to get into an open field, even if you aren't in a city. If you happen to be right next to one, odds are you're in a single-story building with few weights in the attic. When these buildings fall down the doorframes are often left standing. Plus if you're running out while the ground is shaking there's a significant chance that the unsupported ceiling will fall on you, the building wall will fall on you, the windows will be flexing and shattering, cutting you...

Generally, standing in an interior doorway is a far safer move.

I feel like you are disagreeing with me but also reiterating my point.

You don't need to be in field in Kansas to be safe outside. If you're in the suburbs you have lawns, parking lots, or streets and there aren't windows above you. Obviously if you're in downtown LA or SF don't go outside. But there's a lot of people that don't live in, or aren't going to be in, an area with multi-story buildings completely surrounding them. You can easily get far enough away from a couple story building (parking lot) and be safe. That is much safer than inside said building.

Here's the rule of thumb "If something can fall on you outside, go to a door frame or braced structure." But I'll reiterate, it depends on your initial location.

It does depend on your initial location. But if your initial location is inside, then when going outside you are necessarily passing through dangerous territory. Because for as long as your exiting your building, you're right next to a building, which is a more dangerous place to be than inside a building under a desk.

In the suburbs, I have a lawn, but there's some big trees. Out on the street, there's power lines. If it's big enough that I should be worried about my house falling down around me, I'm also worried about trees and downed power lines.

It depends on the construction material. If the building is unreinforced masonry, the doorframe is the strongest part of the wall (with respect to earthquakes). If it is not, it is no stronger or weaker than the rest of the wall. (See https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/megaqk_facts_fantas...).

The most useful place to be in a major earthquake is anywhere where things are not going to swing into or fall onto you. Such as underneath a desk (assuming it's not a cheap construction that will buckle under any significant weight).

But would you not agree that if available, the most safe space is an open field? That's all I'm saying here. People seem to be missing that I'm not suggesting going outside if things can fall on you outside.

Depends how rickety your house is, and where it's located.

If you can get out easily I don't see a reason to stay indoors. Maybe stay away from trees though.

I can see a reason - protection from falling masonry.

I guess my workplace and home don't have surrounding buildings so it's ok to get out. With buildings around you it's probably less of a good idea.