I remember as a kid going with my father to Coalinga, about 1.5 hours from my house (except we used to fly in his plane so was faster). this was mid-80's, big earthquake had leveled many many homes and businesses there and he was rebuilding.

I have wondered since I heard the blurp on the news earlier today if that fault is the one I heard about in geography 10 years ago. supposedly there's a horrible fault that lies between chicago and new orleans, runs through st. louis I think, (not good with map but trying to go from memory here) teacher had said that it had the potential to level every city along it from new orleans north, chicago on bedrock so ok. this is the fault that last time it really gave way in the 1800's the mississippi ran backwards for 6 hours.

Red