Quake prep

Deadly and devastating earthquakes around the globe have raised our awareness of what could happen in the U.S., particularly along major faults on the West Coast and within the quake zone of most concern to Southeast Missouri: the New Madrid Fault.

Earthquake science has found ways to track shifts in Earth's crust, and the scientific understanding of these changes continues to improve. But there still is no reliable way to predict major tremors, except to warn that a "major earthquake" is likely to occur in certain areas within the next 10, 15 or 25 years -- or the next century.

Such imprecise forecasting, while relying on the best seismic evidence available, may leave residents of earthquake-prone areas with a false sense of security. After all, it has been 200 years since the New Madrid fault slipped with sufficient violence to cause significant damage.

If we have learned nothing else from recent quakes, we should by now know that being prepared is worth the effort. This includes such simple things as making sure everyone in your family knows where you will be if you survive a killer quake. And having an emergency supply of water and food. The time to prepare is now, not after the next big earthquake.