Interesting now that I've lived on the US West Coast for 3+ decades now....
The equivalent of a surprising and dangerous natural event out here in CAH-LEE-FOR-NEE-AH is a lightning storm during the summer dry season. (It's so dry when these rare events occur that the rain EVAPORATES BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND!)
This is why you see news video of L.A. going up in flames sometimes....
I only ever felt a quake during all my years in Michigan just once, and that was pretty light.
Now that I rode through the
Loma Prieta quake (just 8 miles from the epicenter at the time!
) and dozens of smaller quakes every year out here I've gotten prepared for them. (Yes, that's possible!)
It is, indeed, very good to hear that it wasn't The Big One (see
New Madrid fault) that's due out there in the Eastern/Midwestern US (yet.)
Methinks it should serve as a good warning for those folks to PLAN and PREPARE for when that day does come, tho!