The Earthquake Button - cont.

We asked...

Turns out, the "earthquake button" isn't a button that YOU push, it's an alarm that goes off inside the elevator if there is an earthquake (as if you wouldn't know the earth was moving). Apparently, the earthquake button begins flashing and a 'calm voice' comes over the PA inside the elevator to direct you to safety. I do not know where that safety is located, as you're currently enclosed in a steel box that is suspended inside a building, but the point is to keep you calm, and provide assurance that help is on the way.

In the event the building's electricity is working properly, the elevator doors will open (after the earthquake has ended) and you will be directed to the nearest floor. This could mean you will have to crawl out of an elevator to the nearest floor. Or, you may have to jump up to get to the nearest floor's ledge once the elevator door is opened, but the 'calm voice' will tell you which way to go.

For what it's worth, I'd still rather have the 'earthquake min-bar'.