If the 1811 New Madrid quake happened today ...

Southeast Missouri was sparsely populated at the time of the New Madrid earthquakes 200 years ago, so little damage was reported near the quakes' epicenters. The log cabin-type construction prevalent at that time withstood the shaking very well.

Experts say another earthquake of that power could cause significant damage in modern Memphis, St. Louis and Little Rock.

Travis Ford, spokesman for Missouri's Insurance department, said Thursday: "There are still a lot of consumers who are unaware that their homeowners' policy does not cover earthquakes."

Buying that extra coverage is up to each customer, he said, so ....