There is another novel which deals with similar themes, although from memory it doesn't lead to anything like the Nebraska Sea. That is 'The Rift' by Walter Jon Williams, published in 1998. This is based on an earthquake on the New Madrid fault. Worth reading.
On a wider issue I can't imagine that an event like this would not have much wider climatic consequences, well beyond the US. I seem to recall a discussion here about the creation of a lake in the Sahara. From memory, studies into that suggested greening the Sahara would lead to desertification of the Amazon. In the Northern Hemisphere, the consequences for Europe and Asia could be severe.
As someone else has pointed out, this would split the US in two. Could it survive if the only contact between East and West is via Canada or by sea? All communications will have gone - phones, roads, railways, Air travel will be possible, but that wouldn't, certainly in 1973, have the capacity to replace the carrying capacity of road and rail.
A seismic event of this size would also presumably have effects beyond the flooded zone. What level of damage would result in Canada especially. How far would the effects reach to east and west?
On a wider issue I can't imagine that an event like this would not have much wider climatic consequences, well beyond the US. I seem to recall a discussion here about the creation of a lake in the Sahara. From memory, studies into that suggested greening the Sahara would lead to desertification of the Amazon. In the Northern Hemisphere, the consequences for Europe and Asia could be severe.
As someone else has pointed out, this would split the US in two. Could it survive if the only contact between East and West is via Canada or by sea? All communications will have gone - phones, roads, railways, Air travel will be possible, but that wouldn't, certainly in 1973, have the capacity to replace the carrying capacity of road and rail.
A seismic event of this size would also presumably have effects beyond the flooded zone. What level of damage would result in Canada especially. How far would the effects reach to east and west?