The Mental Toll

Living in a quake zone can mean constant low-level alertness that affects sleep, daily decisions, and even where people choose to live.

After the 2011 disaster in Japan, many people reported phantom tremors — the unsettling feeling that the ground was moving when it was perfectly still. The sensation was widespread in the weeks afterward as bodies and minds stayed on edge.

Children adapt early. Japanese schools run regular earthquake drills, so taking cover and moving to safety becomes second nature. That practice helps kids stay calmer during a real emergency than peers who have never rehearsed one.