Living in Japan I have found that Earthquakes are almost a daily occurrence. Anything under five, we don’t worry about. Over five, we stop what we are doing and get ready to take cover. As you say, a quake cannot be predicted. However, around Japan we have censors which sound alarms seconds, up to a minute, before we feel the effects. When a quake comes every single mobile phone in the country gives off a very loud distinctive alarm. The TV and radio also sound the alarm. Every town and city has a designated refuge shelter, such as a local school hall. The people here are also well drilled in what to do when a quake comes. For example, we open doors to avoid being trapped inside a building. We also avoid getting too close to buildings outside in the streets to avoid any potential falling debris. I must admit, at the beginning of my stay, I found it all very alarming. Now it is just a matter of the course of our daily lives. We have learned to live with it.