Do People Tend To Over-React To Earthquakes?

I think it probably depends how many earthquakes you have experienced, and certainly how you see other people react to earthquakes when one happens! For example, the only earthquake I have experienced here in England happened a few months ago, caused a few tiles to fall from roofs but other than that caused no real damage at all. However it caused HUGE news here! I was so excited I couldn't sleep for over an hour, (at happened at 1am) and went to bed only after making a dozen phone calls of 'did you feel it? Wow!' and then having tea and toast with a neighbour did I manage to get to bed! I have digressed, sorry, but I certainly over reacted but in a fun sort of sense. If I experienced more earthquakes far more regularly I don't think I'd react the same!

Yes, sometimes especially to those people who are really afraid of earthquake. Me myself, I am really afraid of earthquake even if it is just for few seconds.. I dont know but my heart really beats fast whenever that happens.

Well people tend to over-react to anything small that can potentially cause major damage. I mean if it was California then I'd give a second thought about someone freaking out. You know? I'd be like oh this might be a warming or warm-up for a bigger one. You know it is weird when people mention Jesus because I recently read the bible and read that natural disasters, earthquakes and others, is sign or better put like a... well I can't explain it but, like a warm-up of other natural disasters that are coming because of the wold that is going to end.

I don't know why people are going around saying Jesus is coming, or the end is near. Here in Tennesse, we are not used to earthquakes. When I think earthquake, I think California. Well, after learning that the New Madrid fault is acting up and when it goes off it affects more people than in California of that same size for some reason. I learned all about it acting up about a year ago when my husband told me that the state has been setting up a plan in case of a 6.8 or higher strikes around Memphis. It was ironic the day they left to do their excerises, a 5.2 went off in Illinois. So yes it's scarey, knowing back in 1811-1812, it happened four times and none of them was below a 7.0, and knowing that it could happen again. Give me a tornado or a hurricane any day, I have delt with those.

I think the reason why they are tend to overreact because they are not prepare and they are scared to feel the feeling again. Me, I am still afraid and i don't want to feel it over and over, although i know there will be more earthquakes, and Tsunami that we are not prepare to feel.What can we do its our natural disaster.

I have only experienced one earthquake, and it wasn't even a big one, but it really scared me. It was in England and hit at about 1am, just after I'd got into bed. Obviously, I wasn't expecting it to happen, and it took me by surprise! I was very shaken up by it, and had to get my housemate to come and give me a hug! I was shaking for about half an hour afterwards. I think I'd be a little less freaked out if I experienced another one though.

I, too lived in So. Cal for many years and have been through quite a few of them (Northridge, Whittier, Sylmar) so am not really fazed by little tremors like the one this morning. I live in TN now and since they don't happen here very often the media is having a heyday with it. Oh well, at least it's a change from war and politics. They'll get back to that shortly I'm sure.

I have had a singular response to all the earthquakes I have experienced. The most significant was one I went through some years ago when I wroked for another shipping company. The whole building was shaking, staff members ran out crying and I stayed where I was and continued working. My personal theory is that you cannot predict what will happen to you when you do not control the event. Therefore whatever you do does not have to help you escape injury. In fact, it might help you get injured. So just laugh, if you can, at all the foolishly panicking people and relax. That time I was annoyed when it was over because everyone came back inside the office to talk for hours about what had happened.

Ah ah ah. Well if people were not convinced of the coming of Jesus when that tsunami and successive earthquakes hit Indonesia I dont see why some small shakes should. I did not experience them but those were so tradgic I felt the phantom aftershocks from all the way over here. I over react to earthquakes myself. The first time I felt a sizable tremor (and to date that is the closest I have come to feeling an earthquake) the same thoughts ran through my mind. I gues peoples reactions are based on there experiences. It is easier for you to be calm and rational because you are used to earthquakes and big ones at that. Me. You would be able to find my heart on my tongue during a big tremor more over a big earthquake. I know though that earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that will increase with time and will occur in places never before affected by it. Doesnt make me anymore prepared and my country is always on a earthquake alert during the most active months seeing that we lost an entire city to one in the past. Remember the turn of the millenium when people were sure computers would crash and all sorts of things would go wrong signalling the return of Christ? I figure that unusual experiences just set people off even when they've constantly heard of other people who experienced worst situations.