I sometimes wondered what I'd do if caught in a situation such as an earthquake until last year when I was at Anarchapulco listening to one of the speakers and the floor started moving under me. A lot of people were screaming and running for the door but others of us just sat there. I remember thinking oh well is this how it's all going to end and feeling a strange sort of calm.
I understand that sort of feeling you're talking about. You're fortunate to live in a place where people have no experience and no fear of such things. The Mexicans, on the other hand, have very bad memories about earthquakes so no wonder they reacted like that - although running for the door is a no-no, stairs are dangerous....