NEW MADRID UPDATE: Could the massive earthquakes of 200 years ago happen again? Yes, they could. The last New Madrid earthquake caused damage all the way over here in Knoxville — and there was a lot less to damage then. The midwest and southeast are underprepared for a major earthquake, and one is bound to hit sooner or later. And damage is likely to be over a much more widespread area than a similar California quake, because of differing geography.

UPDATE: Reader Bart Hall emails:

Believe me, if you live anywhere in a major Midwestern river valley — Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and others — you should purchase an earthquake rider on your home casualty insurance. Yesterday. My first two degrees are in geology, I live in the Kansas River valley, and I’ll guarantee you, if that sucker pops like it did 200 years ago it will shake riverine sediments like under-cured Jello. Your house will have major problems.

If you live within 300 miles of New Madrid at all, buy the earthquake rider as well. It’s just a few bucks a quarter, and your home is NOT covered in case of an earthquake.

I’m much further away than that and I bought the rider. It was quite cheap.