The year 2010 was a big one for major earthquakes: Haiti (M 7.0), ...

[RODY.ELKHALIL]

The year 2010 was a big one for major earthquakes: Haiti (M 7.0), Chile (M 8.8), Turkey (M 6.1), and New Zealand (M 7.1). With so many major earthquakes in a short time, many people began to wonder about the status of the planet.
 
  One major author (name withheld for privacy) even got on TV and stated that these earthquakes were related and were triggering each other. Was this author correct? Why or why not?
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The New Madrid earthquakes of the early nineteenth century were some of the largest in American history. At their greatest, they caused buildings and bluffs to collapse, caused land subsidence, and displaced parts of the Mississippi River.
 
  Could another earthquake of this magnitude happen near New Madrid again? Explain how the earthquake devastation today would compare to that of the early nineteenth century.
  What will be an ideal response?

[CAPTAINAMERICA]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: No, the author was not correct. The foci were on different faults and different plate boundaries.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Yes, another earthquake of this magnitude could occur on this fault line again. A quake of similar magnitude would be even more devastating today because, unlike in 1811-1812, the area is densely populated. There are several major interstates and bridges that cross this region. Buildings are not constructed to withstand earthquakes.