Viewpoint: Yes, major earthquakes in the Midwest are rare, and the geological features of the NMSZ are quite different from the earthquake-prone regions of the West Coast.

Viewpoint: No, scientific understanding of earthquake phenomena is still limited, and the large earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 suggest that the threat is genuine.

People have a special dread of earthquakes. They strike without warning, and can in the worst circumstances in a few moments kill thousands of people and leave thousands of others injured and homeless. Hurricanes can be equally devastating, but their arrival is usually predicted hours or even days in advance, giving people the chance to flee or prepare themselves. Tornadoes give less warning than other storms, but their damage is typically very localized. Floods, avalanches, forest fires...