Comment by klempner
11 hours ago
At 45 seconds, load up social media. (although I actually missed the warnings this time, was focused on work) At least assuming the number is only 7.x.
If it were 8+ or somewhat closer, I'd get under my desk. (then pull up social media on my phone)
How does loading up on social media help?
Maybe turn off any gas stove, secure any dangerous tools, stop your car, that kind of thing.
It's not that social media helps, it's that there's not really more to do. It's just another day on the ring of fire.
In practice for anything short of the very biggest earthquakes, if you're close enough for the earthquake to truly be a big deal you're only getting a few seconds of warning. It's not a task list, it's stop doing the immediate dangerous thing you might be doing and grab immediate cover.
Modern gas stoves have security sensors to turn down themselves. I had to reset my water boiler when I got home.
Standing underneath a doorframe is also advisable.
I'm pretty sure that is advice from the last millennium that is no longer taught.
Specifically, the two reasons that it's no longer taught is that 1) rushing to get under a doorframe caused accidents 2) doorframes are no longer reinforced the way they used to be.