Foreshocks may provide
valuable warnings that can lead to life-saving actions.
For
example, the Montenegro earthquake of 1979 came in two shocks with
enough time between them for people to get outside their houses
(103). Studies from the
1980 Italian earthquakes suggest that those who immediately ran
outside were less likely to be injured or killed (82).
However, while running outside may be good advice in rural
areas, it may not necessarily be the best thing to do in densely
populated urban areas. Narrow
streets provide no protection and can rapidly fill with debris
falling from collapsing side walls or roofs of buildings, whereas
the central portion of the same buildings may be left standing and
provide protection. Reports
from the 1985 Chilean earthquakes suggest that a number of people
were killed by building overhangs that fell on them as they tried to
escape (104,105). The
most popular preparedness action recommended in this country is
"duck and cover," which is based on anecdotal stories of people
surviving under desks or beds.