The Mississippi Valley is the most earthquake-prone region of the U.S. west of the Rockies, and seismologists expect a major quake to occur along the New Madrid seismic zone within 50 years.

On Dec. 16, 1811, the first of four quakes – a magnitude 8.0 -- occurred along this zone with the epicenter in New Madrid, Mo. The second quake was felt the same night with the epicenter in northeast Arkansas. The third and fourth quakes also struck New Madrid -- on Jan. 23, 1812, and Feb. 7, 1812.

Earthquakes in the central or eastern United States affect much larger areas than earthquakes of similar magnitude in the western United States. The first New Madrid quake rang church bells in Boston, 1,000 miles away, while the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was felt only as far as 350 miles away.

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According to a June 2006 Risk Management Solutions report, a magnitude 7.7 New Madrid earthquake, similar to the one that occurred in December 1811, would result in more than $60 billion in insured losses today.

The loss of life would be comparably different as well. The Midwest of the early 1800s was sparsely populated. Today, however, the region is home to millions of people and major population centers, including Memphis, Tenn., and St. Louis. 

Click here to view larger image of the New Madrid Fault Area in 1811 versus 2006

Earthquakes cannot be predicted but probabilities can be calculated based on scientific data, and seismologists have given fair warning and reason to prepare.  

Although the loss of life in Hurricane Katrina was staggering, it could lead to lives saved because the dangers of future natural catastrophes were brought to the front of the minds of the American people. Jim Wilkinson, executive director of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, told CNN:

'The size and scope of Katrina and catastrophic aspects of that, people identified with. The connection was made, and so from our local mayors all the way up to our governors and our U.S. congressional folks, people made inquiries and said, 'What are we doing to get ready for this seismic risk here?'

James Dalessandro, Author/Filmmaker and charter member of ProtectingAmerica.org, spent his summer touring the Midwest to raise awareness among those living close to the New Madrid Fault Zone. His goal was to inform residents of the threat of disaster and what they can do, individually and collectively, to be better prepared. He kept a journal of what he saw on this tour, click here to read his blog and hear what this expert had to say in his firsthand assessment of the preparedness and risk of the region.