My husband says our house would survive in a 10.0 magnitude earthquake is that possible?

[Melissapower001]

[MrOracle]

If your house was within 10 miles of the epicenter, it would not survive, and I don't care how it's constructed.

The Richter Scale is a logrhythmic scale, meaning that a 7.0 is 10 times the power of a 6.0, and an 8.0 is 100 times the power of a 6.0. That means a 10.0 is 10,000 times the power of a 6.0. Earthquakes in the 6 range destroy small numbers of buildings near their epicenter all the time, and earthquakes in the 7's destroy major infrastructure even miles from the epicenter. A 10.0 would likely flatten every building in a 50 mile radius, and destroy lots of buildings and bridges and so forth that were 200 miles from the epicenter.

Unless you live in a bouncy-castle, your house isn't going to survive such a massive quake. Hell, neither will most people who live near it. Something that big would kill many millions of people and cause construction that would make, say, all the WWII bombings look like a minor inconvenience. It took 40 years for Europe to recover from WWII infrastructure-wise, and they had lots of outside help to do it.

[Massageman]

In a word- NO!

"Earthquake-proofing" a building needs: flexible foundation (with either or both ) vibration isolation, and /or pendulum damping (a counterweight to stabilize the structure), building reinforcement, improved building connection (to the foundation), and high-tech innovation earthquake-resistant materials. Even with all these improvements, the highest close-epicenter hit a totally-reinforced building has taken and survived was a 9.5, and most houses have only tie-down plates and foundation bolts (and more so for windstorms as opposed to earthquakes, to boot).

My daughter is an Architectural Engineer, and she teaches in a homeschooling co-op. One of the coolest looks is seeing the faces of the younger kids during a STEM/STEAM AE class. She puts a model building on a "shaker-table", and then simulates earthquakes. The models shake, sway, and eventually collapse but the kids really get into it.

Try it yourself- then eat the collapsed buildings!

[Aerissa_Jade]

Some of these larger earthquakes, the land is moving up and down like massive waves in an ocean would.

If it did survive it would likely be so damaged it would need to be condemned, at the same time... depending on your area. Sometimes the ground under it can turn to quick sand and the house sinks in it. If the ground water gets shaken enough and there is a lot of sand.

There is only one way to really know for sure, and I hope that never happens.

[LazerBean]

I find that very unlikely. He may have a unique idea of what "survive" means though.

[Anonymous]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_magnitude_scale

Seems unlikely as the scale describes buildings specifically designed to withstand Earthquakes starting to fail at around 6 and 9 being the point at which buildings suffer 'near total destruction – severe damage or collapse to all buildings. Heavy damage and shaking extends to distant locations. Permanent changes in ground topography

by the way 'shaking to distant locations' means that that supermarket you like to goto for your 'big shop' is now on fire and 'permanent changes in ground topography' means that your bird bath is now where your neighbour used to park their car which is also now on fire, somewhere.

[Chazmatazz269]

Hahahaha!!! If your house is attached to the earth in any way, it’s highly improbable. If it were even possible, your home would be world renowned. If it were even remotely likely, you’d never have peace. Every reporter on every continent would be at your door.

[Tenebrae_mentis]

No. There's no such thing as a 10 magnitude earthquake. But hey, maybe if that theoretical earthquake happened, the house might stand. But after 30 minutes of violent shaking, you'd be dead inside of it. lol

[docster]

If it's a stick-built or brick house, I doubt it. If it's a concrete monolithic dome home, maybe. Then again, I'm not an engineer.

[LiamJHayden]

Not likely.

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-megaquakes-really-happen-magnitude-10-or-larger

[BCRanger10]

I admire his confidence... but it probably wouldn't last five minutes.

[Anonymous]

your husband is likely not an expert and sounds pretty young... so, he is not the one to go to for earthquake advice.

[NostalgiaSenpi]

Theoretically, that's an earthshattering quake.

[Surely]

Doubt it. A magnitude 10 is total destruction. If I am not mistaken.

[Zayed_]

Depends on how many floors is your house and If it was built with concrete or wood

[Paulychicagoluv]

Ground zero, goodness no. 60 miles away, absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Yes if he survived after having wife like you. than he can survive any earthquake.

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

No, not possible.

[Pinkspark]

Your husband is wrong.

[douride2]

The short answer is NO.

[shortster]

Depends on how close to the epicenter.

[Melissapower001]

It is on the epicenter

[shortster]

Unless he is a Japanese engineer who has been studying earthquakes for the last 20 years and designed your house. I have my doubts on that claim.

[Anonymous]

Sexuality? lol

[HaveNoName]

He must have been high.

[riverrat3]

Doubt it, but possible

[hypojoe]

Probably not

[Anonymous]

your husband's also an idiot

[TrillXHippy]

Lol.