Maybe they thought they weren't free to do anything.
The answer is the character is scared and traumatised
In the paragraph, it had talked how the narrator had felt
when the earthquake had strike from the lines <span>My first inclination, as always, was to get away: "when
in trouble or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." Even they were
already in the safe placed, they were still afraid because of their experience.</span>
What book are you reading...not enough info is givin:(
Something that is necessary is 'needed'.