Well exactly so; two of my mates were in Istanbul when the last big earthquake struck. They were living in a very tall modern hotel.
The captain got out of bed and got himself into the car park PDQ. After a while, he realised that he hadn't seen the F/O yet so he called him on his mobile phone.
F/O was back in his bed having survived the event and couldn't see a lot of point in standing in a wet car park which did not have a guaranteed health and safety certificate!
As to one of the previous postings, I don't think you can actually be forced out of your home even in the USA even if you decide to sit it out.