Lateral Seismic Forces on a House

While hurricanes and tornadoes primarily create uplift forces, earthquakes generate predominantly lateral (horizontal) forces that affect buildings. Sliding: The entire house can shift off its foundation when earthquake forces push it sideways, especially if it's not properly anchored. Overturning: Walls or structures may tip or turn over due to strong horizontal shaking. Racking: The house's frame can distort into a parallelogram shape—this often happens when bracing is inadequate. Soft-story failure: A lower level with large openings (like garages) lacks enough lateral support, making it prone to collapse while upper stories stay intact.