I just wrote thanking granite for his post... Now, I have read the two articles you posted gitmo. Very interesting to say the least. For now, if I’m ever in an earthquake zone I think I will stick to the “original” plan - finding a good solid table or desk to duck under...
As I’m thinking about this further - and in light of the information from the Red Cross and snopes, I personally think that in cases where a building is not going to collapse (or a collapse is not imminent) then getting under a solid table is probably the most advisable thing to do. It would seem to me that if a building of considerable weight is collapsing around you, then getting out of it alive - being in a small pocket - would really all be up to God at that point... Lying in the fetal position without any covering would leave one vulnerable to falling debris and loose furniture and such.
In the recent tornado that killed 4 Boy Scouts, the scouts were ordered under tables. The incident reviews are attributing that action to saving a number of lives.