There are two reasons I prefer hurricanes.  Well, maybe three reasons.
First, we only have a big earthquake in Southern California about once
every 20 years.  Those poor people in Florida and thereabouts get
several hurricanes a year.  Second, I like the fact that there is no
warning.  With a hurricane, you usually have plenty of time to get
scared.  With an earthquake, by the time you get around to being scared,
it's over.  The possible third reason is that I'm a native Californian
and I'm used to earthquakes.  I don't even feel anything under about a
4.5.

Joy

Actually, Reelfoot Lake was formed by the series of major quakes
along the New Madrid Fault in late 1811 and early 1812, not in the
early 20th century.  That series of tremors is estimated to have been
the most powerful earthquake in US history (there may well have been
stronger quakes in the past, before Europeans arrived).  I have read
that the earthquake caused damage as far away as Boston,
Massachusetts.

Geologists estimate that there is a greater than 50% chance of a
major quake occurring by the mid-21st century, since the many small
quakes since 1812 haven't been enough to relieve all of the stored-up
stress along the fault.  I live in Nashville, 180 miles or so east of
the fault, in a brick-veneer house (brick outside, wood-frame
inside), and chose shortly after I bought my house to take out an
earthquake rider on my homeowner's policy.  Whenever the big one
finally comes, I don't expect my house to be destroyed, but I do
expect it to need repairs.