Earthquakes scare the shit out of me. I was unfortunate enough to experience one in Japan, where dozens of people were killed and water was out for weeks—despite probably being the most prepared society on earth. I can't imagine what a proper one would look like in America.

Up until recently I've comforted myself with the thought that I'm safe here on the east coast. That's until I read that the NYC area is overdue for one as well: not nearly as big, but that doesn't matter to unreinforced masonry. And the nuclear power plant sitting on the fault line.