Especially in emergencies - information is potentially bad, and going with the crowd can leave you dead.
That said, preparation is key.
That said, preparation is key.
> a logger’s first aid kit, a flashlight, the new Army bayonet (designed mainly as a tool), a folding shovel, and Vibram-soled boots
Note, that article is from 1990. It's a recounting of the '89 San Francisco earthquake.
[0]: https://sb.longnow.org/SB_homepage/Earthquake_Lessons.html
In general and for the society at large, what you want is order. Listen to authorities, do what they say. If everyone is in full panic mode, its very likely even more people die. By following directions and maintaining order, you increase the odds that more people survive.
For you personally? Go in full panic mode, do whatever you have to, to live. At the end of the day, no one is getting a ticket for running a police barricade. But some people that listened are literally dead.
Basically - I want everyone else to be calm and follow directions, and I want to push my way to the front and save myself.