The truth is, an earthquake can happen anywhere, anytime. No place is exempt. And they can be devastating. Geologists are discovering new faults all the time. Every time they get a new shaker, especially in some place that seldom gets a quake, they get a new look from a new angle on what lies below the surface. It's awesome to think that the Mississippi River may be a subsequent stream, that is, a stream which follows a fault line! Remember the New Madrid quake that happened back in the early 1800's. It was huge and it obliterated the entire city of New Madrid.

footnote: Most earthquake policies do not come in force until a year later. I would imagine that this is so folks cannot claim preexisting earthquake damage or have coverage for aftershocks from a recent event. Check with your agent.