Why is the basement considered the safest place to go during a natural disaster?

Question

This has always bothered me.
I understand that the lack of windows is safer for reasons, but if the house collapses then you’re literally trapped under a house?
It would be harder to find you??
I feel like I’m missing something,
Please explain.

In: Engineering

Answer 1

That entirely depends on the disaster. There aren’t really that many disasters that would put your house at a risk of collapse, apart from maybe a massive mudslide or an earthquake. With heavy storms the most severe danger comes from flying shrapnel – basement is super-safe. During a flood you’d definitely not want to hunker down in a basement.