PEOPLE

The Southeast Missourian asked people whether the earthquake prediction a year ago has had any lasting effect on them.

Donna Hale: "I did go out and buy water then, but two weeks later I poured it out or used it to water my plants. I think you just have to live your life day by day, and not have so much fear that you are paralyzed. You just have to live with the possibility that it could happen."

Van Radford: "I moved recently to Cape Girardeau from Fulton where I was in college last year. I lived in a dorm where we took precautions then for an earthquake. Now I live closer to the fault. I realize that people around here are more concerned about it."

Cheryl Perkins: "I didn't do anything about it a year ago because I wasn't worried about it. I don't put much in people's predictions. I just go a day at a time. It might happen eventually. It's like a tornado. If it happens, you just have to go with what it takes."

Ken Hollowell: "At that time, I thought that people were in an uproar over nothing. It had zero effect on me then. I think an earthquake will probably happen sometime, but when it happens it happens. I don't see making any special preparations for it."

Cecelia Gerecke: "The original prediction had an effect on me, but when it did not come true, I was through with it. I no longer believe anyone can predict something like that. However, I still keep water stored, and I keep it up-to-date. That's a lasting good effect."

Rich Ruch: "I was in class at SEMO when we had that last tremor. Since then, I often wonder if we're having another tremor whenever a jet flies over or when the train goes by. You can prepare in a minor way by storing water or food, but that's about it."