Actually, as I understand it, the largest earthquakes on record in the lower 48 states happened in 1811 and 1812, with back to back (month or so apart) 8+ quakes on the New Madrid fault, around the Missouri bootheel. And living here in Memphis I know that they don't have a clue about earthquake prep in the building codes!
I've figured out what all of the activity is leading up to. The New Madrid is going to let go again and Arkansas and Louisana are going to sink and the Memphis bluffs will be new beachfront property.
Indeed. We at least know what we're dealng with in L.A. People in the Midwest, and in NYC, they've just not built in preparation for an earthquake. Sure it may be hundreds of years, but when it hits... ouch.