Originally Posted By: wildman800
I'm far enough away from the New Madrid and other associated fault lines where that is not a realistic concern. The small fault lines in South Lousy-anna are a non-concern (largely) because the earth to water ratio is such that shocks are absorbed up to basically a 3.5 richter scale. They do occur but we don't feel them. We are far enough west of the major fault line known as the Mississippi River where that is not a realistic concern.


Not to burst your bubble, but New Madrid had a quake in the 1800s that was felt in D.C. Fault lines tend to cause more damage when NOT on fault lines, since solid objects propogate the shock waves better (similar to sonar working in water, but not air). You might get an unpleasant suprise.

http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/aware/nmsz.html
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/NewMadrid/

Since most of the US east of the Rocky's doesn't build to earthquake code, even a modest shaker could devastate the area.