Growing up in the Midwest, I always heard stories about the New Madrid fault and how it could bring the "big one" that would dwarf earthquakes from the well-known San Andreas fault in California. There was a certain level of intrigue associated with the New Madrid fault (or the Reelfoot as it is more accurately known -- New Madrid is the nearby town). I think this had to do with the fact that floods and tornadoes were well-established natural disasters in the region, but an earthquake seemed truly exotic.
This article describes the scientific debate over the Reelfoot. For years, it has been defined as a high-risk fault for a massive earthquake that could threaten thousands of lives and billions in damage. However, one seismologist, Seth Stein, has led a campaign to reevaluate the true risk of the fault and the cost-benefit analysis associated with preparing for a posible "big one" in the future. Stein is profiled in this article, which is an especially interesting read for anyone familiar with the legend of the New Madrid (and people who are new to it, too!).
"Seth Stein: The Quake Killer" by Richard Monastersky
Published in Nature, November 9, 2011
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111109/full/479166a.html
For another interesting longread about earthquakes and the role of scientists in warning of their risks, check out this other article from Nature: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110914/full/477264a.html
I hope you have a great weekend, and check back next week for more longreads!
Eric
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