Better safe than sorry... If you think it's a big one you should run outside even if your neighbors might laugh at you and ridicule you for being a drama queen.
I had to run out after Northridge to turn off the water. Our hot water heater had ripped its pipes loose. I turned off the water and then looked up. It was amazing! The lights were off in most of the city and you could see the stars. I stood there for a few seconds looking at them. I was thinking "Wow... Look at all the stars! ...I'm bare-assed naked." At which point I decided that I really should go back inside.
I was in the big quake of 89. I was a travel agent working in a newer mall that was made to withstand earthquakes. Unfortunately all the huge filing cabinets were bolted together but not to the floor so they came over on me and another lady.
I was being squished, I couldn't move.
Then when it stopped shaking 2 guys that were in the office and 2 that were in the mall came in and saved us. They were like guerilla warfare men, like the incredible Hulk, doing everything they could to pull us out.
Thankfully we were ok. I was badly bruised and the other lady broke some ribs but we were ok. I had lived in California almost all of my life and had never experienced an earthquake like that. It was unbelievable.