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 the most seismically active state in the U.S., with earthquakes occurring daily due to its position… Very High California California is one of the most earthquake-prone states in the nation, with active faults running through… Very High Washington Washington is one of the highest-risk states for earthquakes in the U.S., with a combination of offshore… Very High Nevada Nevada is one of the most earthquake-prone states in the US, with active faults scattered throughout the… High Oregon Oregon faces a high level of earthquake risk (level 4 of 5), driven primarily by the Cascadia Subduction Zone… High Utah Utah faces a significant earthquake risk, particularly along the Wasatch Front, where the majority of the… High Arkansas Arkansas faces a moderate earthquake risk, driven primarily by its location within the New Madrid Seismic… Moderate Hawaii Hawaii faces a moderate (level 3 of 5) earthquake risk, with thousands of quakes each year, many linked to… Moderate Idaho Idaho faces moderate earthquake risk, with most seismic activity concentrated in the central and eastern… Moderate Kentucky Kentucky faces a moderate level 3 earthquake risk, primarily due to its proximity to the New Madrid and… Moderate Missouri Missouri faces a moderate earthquake risk, primarily from the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the southeastern… Moderate Montana Montana experiences moderate earthquake activity, with the highest risk in the western part of the state near… Moderate South Carolina South Carolina has a moderate risk of earthquakes, with most seismic activity concentrated in the Charleston… Moderate Tennessee Tennessee faces a moderate earthquake risk (level 3 of 5) driven by the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the west… Moderate Wyoming Wyoming faces a moderate (level 3 of 5) earthquake risk, with the greatest activity concentrated in the… Moderate Alabama Alabama has a low to moderate earthquake risk (level 2 of 5). While most earthquakes in the state are small… Low Arizona Arizona faces a relatively low to moderate earthquake hazard (level 2 of 5) compared with other western… Low Colorado Colorado experiences relatively few earthquakes compared to western states like California, but the risk is… Low Connecticut Earthquakes are an infrequent but real hazard in Connecticut. The state is rated level 2 out of 5 on FEMA's… Low Georgia Georgia has a low to moderate earthquake risk, rated level 2 out of 5. Most earthquakes in the state are… Low Illinois Illinois has a low to moderate earthquake risk, rated level 2 of 5. The greatest hazard lies in the southern… Low Indiana Indiana has a low to moderate earthquake risk, rated level 2 out of 5, with most seismic activity occurring… Low Maine Maine has a relatively low but real earthquake risk, rated level 2 out of 5 by FEMA. While the state is far… Low Massachusetts Massachusetts has a low to moderate earthquake risk, rated level 2 of 5. While large earthquakes are rare,… Low Mississippi Mississippi has a low but nonzero earthquake risk, rated Level 2 of 5 by FEMA. The state sits away from major… Low New Hampshire New Hampshire has a moderate-to-low earthquake risk, rated level 2 out of 5. While damaging earthquakes are… Low New Mexico New Mexico has a moderate earthquake risk, rated level 2 of 5, with most activity tied to the Rio Grande… Low New York New York has a low but real earthquake risk, rated level 2 of 5 in the National Risk Index. The state… Low North Carolina North Carolina has a level 2 of 5 earthquake risk. While earthquakes are rare and usually minor, they can… Low Ohio Ohio has a relatively low risk of damaging earthquakes, rated Level 2 out of 5. Most seismic activity is… Low Oklahoma Oklahoma faces a moderate earthquake risk, rated Level 2 of 5, primarily driven by induced seismicity from… Low Vermont Vermont has a low to moderate earthquake risk, rated 2 out of 5 by FEMA. While no major destructive… Low Virginia Virginia experiences occasional earthquakes, most notably the 2011 magnitude 5.8 event near Mineral. The… Low Delaware Delaware has an extremely low earthquake risk, rated level 1 out of 5 by FEMA. Minor tremors are possible but… Very Low District of Columbia The District of Columbia faces a low earthquake hazard, rated level 1 of 5, but the risk is not zero. While… Very Low Florida Florida has an extremely low earthquake risk, rated Level 1 out of 5, because the state is not located near… Very Low Iowa Iowa has a very low earthquake hazard, rated level 1 out of 5, but small earthquakes can still occur in the… Very Low Kansas Kansas has a low overall earthquake risk, rated level 1 of 5, but the state is not completely free from… Very Low Louisiana Louisiana faces a very low earthquake hazard, rated level 1 out of 5, meaning the chance of damaging shaking… Very Low Maryland Maryland has a low earthquake risk, rated Level 1 on FEMA's National Risk Index. While minor tremors are… Very Low Michigan Michigan has a very low earthquake hazard, rated Level 1 of 5, meaning damaging earthquakes are unlikely but… Very Low Minnesota Minnesota has a very low earthquake risk, rated level 1 out of 5. Earthquakes are rare and typically too… Very Low Nebraska Nebraska has a very low earthquake risk, rated Level 1 of 5 by FEMA's National Risk Index. The state is far… Very Low New Jersey New Jersey has a low earthquake risk, rated Level 1 out of 5 by FEMA's National Risk Index. While small… Very Low North Dakota North Dakota has one of the lowest earthquake hazards in the United States, rated level 1 of 5. While… Very Low Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has very low earthquake risk, rated level 1 out of 5. While minor tremors are possible, the… Very Low Rhode Island Rhode Island has a very low risk of earthquakes, rated level 1 out of 5. While small tremors are possible,… Very Low South Dakota South Dakota has a very low earthquake risk, rated level 1 out of 5 by FEMA. While occasional minor tremors… Very Low Texas Texas has a low risk of earthquakes overall, but localized seismic activity occurs, often linked to oil and… Very Low West Virginia West Virginia is rated Level 1 of 5 for earthquake risk, meaning earthquakes are very unlikely to cause… Very Low Wisconsin Earthquakes are extremely rare in Wisconsin, which has one of the lowest seismic hazard levels in the nation.… Very Low

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