Earthquakes strike without warning, and significant seismic zones exist far beyond the West Coast.

How to prepare your home

  • Secure heavy furniture, water heaters and appliances to walls.
  • Know how to shut off gas, water and electricity.
  • Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On with your household.
  • Consider a seismic retrofit for older homes, especially cripple-wall foundations.
  • Standard homeowners insurance excludes earthquakes — evaluate separate coverage.

Official sources

All states ranked by earthquakes risk

Alaska Alaska is among the most exposed states in the nation when it comes to earthquakes. The risk is very high,… Very High California California is among the most exposed states in the nation when it comes to earthquakes. The risk is very… Very High Washington Washington is among the most exposed states in the nation when it comes to earthquakes. The risk is very… Very High Nevada earthquakes represents a high risk for homeowners in Nevada. Damaging events occur frequently, and preparing… High Oregon earthquakes represents a high risk for homeowners in Oregon. Damaging events occur frequently, and preparing… High Utah earthquakes represents a high risk for homeowners in Utah. Damaging events occur frequently, and preparing… High Arkansas Arkansas has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Hawaii Hawaii has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Idaho Idaho has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Kentucky Kentucky has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Missouri Missouri has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Montana Montana has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate South Carolina South Carolina has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners… Moderate Tennessee Tennessee has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Wyoming Wyoming has a moderate risk of earthquakes. Damaging events happen regularly enough that homeowners should… Moderate Alabama earthquakes poses a low risk in Alabama. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Arizona earthquakes poses a low risk in Arizona. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Colorado earthquakes poses a low risk in Colorado. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Connecticut earthquakes poses a low risk in Connecticut. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do… Low Georgia earthquakes poses a low risk in Georgia. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Illinois earthquakes poses a low risk in Illinois. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Indiana earthquakes poses a low risk in Indiana. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Maine earthquakes poses a low risk in Maine. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Massachusetts earthquakes poses a low risk in Massachusetts. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do… Low Mississippi earthquakes poses a low risk in Mississippi. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do… Low New Hampshire earthquakes poses a low risk in New Hampshire. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do… Low New Mexico earthquakes poses a low risk in New Mexico. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do… Low New York earthquakes poses a low risk in New York. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low North Carolina earthquakes poses a low risk in North Carolina. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do… Low Ohio earthquakes poses a low risk in Ohio. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur and… Low Oklahoma earthquakes poses a low risk in Oklahoma. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Vermont earthquakes poses a low risk in Vermont. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Virginia earthquakes poses a low risk in Virginia. Significant events are infrequent, but localized incidents do occur… Low Delaware Delaware faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low District of Columbia District of Columbia faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major… Very Low Florida Florida faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Iowa Iowa faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are uncommon,… Very Low Kansas Kansas faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Louisiana Louisiana faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Maryland Maryland faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Michigan Michigan faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Minnesota Minnesota faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Nebraska Nebraska faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low New Jersey New Jersey faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low North Dakota North Dakota faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Pennsylvania Pennsylvania faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Rhode Island Rhode Island faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low South Dakota South Dakota faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Texas Texas faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low West Virginia West Virginia faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low Wisconsin Wisconsin faces a very low risk from earthquakes compared with most other states. While major events are… Very Low

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