Oh gosh! yes, terrible things in NZ! The Californians here were much the same way about our little quake, but then everyone here is also very unaccustomed to them so people did very stupid things. They evacuated all the buildings so they could be checked so people are standing around outside and building engineers always say you are at danger of falling debris. Rugby world cup! OH NO!
Of course here we are also moving toward the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and if you hear a roar like that earthquake, you immediately think that it's another attack. So, I imagine its much like the shock of the NZers after the Christchurch quake and then the Japan quake. Ugh. BAD year.