I've been in both. First earthquake I was ever in, winter '09 or early 2010, all I heard was a snapping noise. I didn't feel anything, but I happened to be standing in the doorway of a brick building at the time. A person about 3 feet from me on the interior was wildly asking " "What was that, what was that!? Seems standing on the inside one could really feel the movement. Never thought I'd experience one in Brownville, Nebraska. Second one was a few years ago sitting in our kitchen in SW Iowa. I thought I was feeling a little dizzy then I realized it wasn't me, but the shelving was swaying back and forth. We didn't experience any damage in either. I'd pick earth quake.
The second tornado I was in I was working and the sirens went off. Of course some of the guys went out to see what was going on. I looked up and told them that's a tornado. I was transfixed on watching the rotating clouds. It hadn't dropped yet, but it was quite the spectacle. Of course, the other guys thought I was getting carried away when I had gone back in. About 5 minutes later it had dropped down and did quite a bit of damage in Council Bluffs.
First tornado I was in was in may 6, 1975. I remember that date quite well. I lived on hill and it was raining so heavily that water was over flowing the 4" gutters on the steep part of the hill maybe about 30 degree angle. I saw that and knew something was up. Then the rain stopped and the sky grew dark and the wind came up. Then the sky went black, I mean solid black. I thought it was leaves, it was 3 tab asphalt roofing shingles. I looked to the west and the ridge of the horizon which was about 5 blocks away was clear except for a large dark area resembling VI-- yep, that was a tornado. It did a lot of damage to Omaha. I knew people who had a lot of damage as well as suffered injuries.
I would prefer non of the above, thanks.