First, there was Twister, then Dante's Peak, Volcano, and Asteroid, among others. There's no question that natural disasters make good movies. In fact, at least one made-for-television "disaster movie" was aired by each of the major television networks last year, including the CBS movie, Aftershock, about a fictional earthquake in New York City. While the purpose of disaster movies is, of course, entertainment, they do serve an even greater purpose. They raise public awareness (and yes, sometimes fears) about the very real destructive power of natural disasters.

A Disaster Waiting to Happen

Earthquakes, while admittedly uncommon in New York, are a real threat in several states, including California, Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Arkansas, and Utah. Consider Salt Lake City, Utah, for example.

Salt Lake City houses a population of about 170,000, and its metropolitan area is home to about 1.5 million people. But, don't be fooled by its picturesque beauty and calm. Salt Lake City is perched on the Wasatch Fault, a schism in the earth capable of hugely destructive earthquakes. So, what's a city to do while it waits for a disaster to happen?