[phisigduchesscv]

trust me on this one, you don't necessarily want to ever feel an earthquake especially like the bigger ones - Northridge, Simi (in the 70's), Landers, and although i didn't feel it the Loma Prieta. As a native California you know that it could happen at any time but when it does you have to wonder "is this the big one" - scientists keep saying that Southern California is overdue for a big one, as if Northridge wasn't big enough. The big one they are talking about will be on the San Andreas fault and if it does rupture besides lots of damage in L.A. you can probably expect Vegas too since it's not up to building standards.

As for earthquakes in the midwest, look for information on the New Madrid fault in the 1800's. It had the largest earthquake in recorded history of the U.S. they are even newspaper reports (and private diaries) reporting the Mississippi river flowed backwards for a short time.