Some earthquakes can change the course of history. Brazil's independence from Portugal was probably linked to the economic devastation of the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755...
Part of me is amazed that Nicholas Cage isn't trying out for the role (or at least a part in the movie). He took the name Cage as a tribute to Luke Cage even though there's no resemblance.
http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2008/05/the-great-lisbo.html
Arthur Carlson, WKRP
You have to wonder who else above ground knew about this.