If you live directly on top of an active earthquake fault zone and large fresh cracks start to appear in building foundations across the city, what are you likely to do?

1. Contact the people at National Geographic and ask them if they think that earthquakes can be predicted, and then discuss the matter for the next 100 years with every scientist and amateur researcher on the planet?

2. Get out of Dodge!

Large, fresh cracks in building foundations over a large area of land near a major earthquake fault zone might be regarded as a fairly good indicator that seismic activity could be on the way. Or, you could choose option # 1 and debate the matter with other people using your cell telephone as you wait for rescuers to get you out from under all of the rubble after the earthquake occurs.