[Alia]

I grew up in Japan. Earthquake drills were regular, monthly events when I went to school. So well prepared was I, when I arrived in the U.S. I was so shocked to learn how few knew what to do. You describe the anchor people in Japan; this description is precisely how I would describe radio, teachers, policemen, and yes amah, during an earthquake in Japan - calm, definitive, directive. None of this "hyper amp" stuff which saturates the news in America when an earthquake happens.

All the best to you, and to each of our neighbors in Japan, the people of Japan.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You know the drill, Alia, you know the drill.

[threeoeight]

Gee, I grew up in the Bay Area (SF) and we had quakes all the time. No fuss, no bother, orderly response. Even when we all bounced across the room in our school desks, no big deal.
We were taught to remain calm.