The first earthquake along the New Madrid fault registered a 7.1, the highest activity in over a century.
Scientists flock to Memphis to conduct research, share their data, and asses the damage.
Among the visitors is geologist Elizabeth Holleran and US Geological Survey disaster expert John Atkins. John quickly notices odd behavior and other natural phenomena that makes him conclude another quake is imminent. He is proven correct when the next quake hits 8.4. Wondering if history can repeat the series of quakes of 1811-12, John and Elizabeth believe another quake, of greater magnitude, will soon strike the beleaguered middle America, already devastated. Desperate yet divided, a team forms that will go inside the Earth to set off a nuclear explosion to stop the next quake.