Another potential bowl of Jello maker, got the Rockies to the West, Appalachians to the East and the Canadian Shield to the North. Ozark Mountains fit in there somehow also.
I remember reading somewhere years if we had a repeat of the any of the 1811-1812 earthquakes, pretty much the entire Midwest would much of their multi-story buildings.
Jello is right. Where we live according to USGS / FEMA, we are right on the line (flip a coin) of severe or moderate damage. It the New Madrid opens up, it will shut down the U.S. for several months if not years. Most bridges in that area will be toast or shut down just in case. Memphis will, depending on who's research you read will just either disappear or go up in a poof of fire and smoke.
Thing is, we just don't know. Egg heads can spout all day long that a quake in X area cannot be over Y magnitude, they can keep saying that til the cows come home. They do not know. 2011 Japan quake proved that. The Jap egg heads were convinced nothing over 8.4-8.5, and bet millions of lives on that, a bet they lost.
In the PNW, it's the same deal but worse. Science has know since the 70s of the earthquake potential in the PNW, they just didn't know where. In the late 80s early 90s they zeroed in, but still ignored it.
Like the article stated. It was "you know you shouldn't build XX here, major earthquake and tsunami zone". Corporation / politicians nods head "yes, but we will any way, look at the money to be made". Science "ok, you have been consulted that you acknowledge you are building XX right in the middle of a major arse humping zone". That is the process.
I reccomend the book I mentioned, "Full Rip 9.0". It chronicles the zone and the fight to actually get people to recognize what will happen. It calls out politicians and corps who know, they freaking know this will happen but do not care at all.
