why do you think that people choose to live in places where earthquakes are common
My son lives about three miles from the San Andreas Fault. In their 30 years there, they haven't experienced a serious earthquake in their city.
They live there because he's made his career there as a well-paid engineer. The climate is wonderful and they're only a couple hours drive from the mountains. Their friends are there and they'v put down roots. In addition, their home is well built and probably wouldn't sustain much damage in an earthquake.