I rather like a series of small quakes; I think they release pressure incrementally that would otherwise build up into a big one.
They seem pretty sure that *something* will happen pretty soon at St. Helens, and that the something will not be terribly major. Scientists study the bleep out of that pile of rocks nowadays.
I live in the shadow of (currently dormant) Mt. Rainier, 100+ miles north of St. Helens. There are signs all over the place directing you to higher ground for "Volcano evacuation route". The fear is that Rainier will erupt and create giant lahars (mud flows) that go down the river valleys. While there is ancient historical precedent for such an event, I choose to believe that it may or may not happen 500 years from now.
But hey, we've got no poisonous snakes, tornados, hurricanes, dust storms or truly nasty bugs. It's always something.
