Dokka

"During a series of New Madrid quakes from 1811 to 1812, dishes flew off shelves in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, but there wasn't much documentation associated with those events locally," Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

Meanwhile, looking out to sea, Dokka said earthquakes occur several hundred miles offshore in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, generally with a maximum magnitude of 5.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

Dokka cautioned that "several nuclear power plants lie in the region of the New Madrid quakes and are vulnerable to shaking."

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

"During a series of New Madrid quakes from 1811 to 1812, dishes flew off shelves in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, but there wasn't much documentation associated with those events locally," Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

"The Michoud fault is pretty insignificant," Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

"Subsidence in New Orleans is happening fast, and it's not because of global warming," Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

Dokka cautioned that "several nuclear power plants lie in the region of the New Madrid quakes and are vulnerable to shaking."

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

And on Aug. 1 of last year, a magnitude 3 quake felt north of Baton Rouge might have been from groundwater pumping or other causes, Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

"The Michoud fault is pretty insignificant," Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011

Faults in that vicinity are unlikely to generate a big quake any time soon, however, Dokka said.

Susan Buchanan: Louisiana Power Plants Say They're Prepared For Quakes Susan Buchanan 2011