I forget the exact description of the factoid, but something like a dozen magnitude 8+ earthquakes occur every year somewhere in the world. But the public really only notices them when they affect heavily populated areas directly through shaking, or indirectly, like the Indonesia tsunami. So that's the main reason why these giant earthquakes are on our minds lately.

AFAIK, the frequency of these massive earthquakes hasn't really increased. So the chance of a massive earthquake in your neck of the woods is probably just the same as it was 10 years ago, more or less.

There is the argument that a large earthquake can trigger other large quakes in other areas, but it's probably just as true that large quakes can also reduce the chance of quakes elsewhere by relieving tectonic stresses.

You can be sure that quakes will either reduce the chances of additional quakes somewhere, increase them, or leave them unaffected.

Well, sorta. Most of us math dummies (including me) are not used to working with log scales, but they are necessary because the range of energy released by earthquakes is so wide ranging. I recall from somewhere that the maximum likely tremor would top out at somewhere around 10.5. But that is theory.

"Whole lot of shakin' goin' on"

I have to tell you that this made me laugh. Certainly, its very thorough!

The day after the Chilean earthquake, I read this. I agree with the author's basic ideas. To suggest that the earth is more or less active than it has been will probably be considered "unsubstantiated" at best. If you look at the history... earthquakes are regular occurences and sometimes earthquakes WILL hit populated areas.

As far as your question, "Are we next?" the short answer is that we are no more "next" than we were last year, or the year before.

Your questions about what to do to prepare are worthwhile, a really big one is to keep the larder stocked and make sure you have some water on hand while you ride out the aftermath. Red cross classes would be high on my list too.

Assuming you get out alive. I don't pretend to be an expert in "what to do" if you don't get out alive, which was your other scenario.

Lots of little blue squares yesterday- much higher than you normally see.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Maps/special/California_Nevada.php

Are there any unusual cloud formations, strange fogs or mists and any missing animals or strange animal behaviors in this part of the world?

With sincere regrets for the people who died - Chile was almost ideally suited to this quake.
It's developed enough to have building codes, and the equipment and infrastructure to cope but not so developed that it has 10 million people living in skyscrapers in the city center.

There is a sort of GDP-damage event curve and you don't want to live at either end, Tokyo or Haiti.

If and when an earthquake is going to happen is a crapshoot. Any time, any place, any strength.

Chile had the world's worst recorded earthquake, 9.5, on May 22, 1960. The recent one was 'only' 8.8.

Alaska had a 9.2 quake in 1964, with surface land displacements of as much as 38 feet. Think of that when people talk about earthquake-proof buildings. (Sneering? ME????)

The only thing you can do is be prepared for disasters in general. Be ready to leave, or ready to stay and camp in your backyard.

Sue

Indeed, and Haiti has no code. It's not merely unenforced: there is no code, and no inspectors.

What I wonder about are things like the 1958 Lituya Bay earthquake & tsunami. Are there populated areas that where the same thing could happen? I'm not sure how one prepares for a 1/3 mile tall tsunami wave.

There are some things that are basically impossible to prepare for, or at least not cost effective to prepare for. One consequence of a potential large asteroid impact, something like the one that snuffed out the dinosaurs, would be a 200 foot tsunami wave on an open coast. Imagine how that would build in a narrow fjord. Of course, the tsunami would just be one of the problems you might face.

One unusual ocurrence that is happening in Chile.

The aftershocks are getting stronger, not weakening as the norm post-earthquake behavior.