Yes, that's one of those options that seems prudent, like the triangle of life, but which turn out can get even MORE people hurt in the long run, at least in places like California. That zone between inside and outside turns out to be one of the common places where people in earthquakes are actually injured, primarily from falling debris. Which leads to the traditional advice that if you're inside when the quake hits, stay inside, and if you're outside, get away from buildings, power lines, etc.

The other common ways people get injured are being struck by things like toppling bookshelves, paintings, big mirrors, TV's (those suckers are heavy!), falling light fixtures, and also foot injuries, such as having to walk barefoot on broken glass or even getting poked through your shoes by nails when walking over the debris of a collapsed house. Personally, I'd hate to be deep frying a turkey when the Big One hits. Ouch!