I was in a 7.5 in Mexico City in 1957. The shaking was violent like being on a fast moving NY subway train, but there was no sound except the telephone wires strung along poles overhead that were slapping together as the poles swayed from side to side about 15 degrees to each side.
It was 1:30 am and I was walking home from a party with a friend. I staggered and said, “But I only had 2 drinks.” Then my friend (from California) said “earthquake,” grabbed my hand and we ran to the center of the intersection away from the buildings, poles and wires. We had to cling to each other to keep from falling over. It lasted about a minute.
Earthquakes can be like that. The idea that you can run around during one is only true if it is not a big one, or your not near the epicenter.
If it is a big one, and you’re near the center, hang on!
You and your friend did the right thing.
You won’t have too much of a chance to go anywhere until it is over. If you’re inside, look for cover, if you’re outside, try to stay away from anything that can fall on you. And bricks are the worst. You don’t see brick buildings here in California for that reason. Bricks just crumble and crack and fall down. And the mid west is full of brick this and brick that.