Earthquake Hazards

For the first time, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey have mapped the active surface trace of the Rodgers Creek Fault through the central part of the northern California city of Santa Rosa. Urban development has, until now, obscured its exact location.

For the first time, new USGS maps identify the potential for ground shaking from both human-induced and natural earthquakes in 2016.

On March 28, USGS scientists will release a report and the first-ever maps showing potential ground-shaking hazards from both human-induced and natural earthquakes. In the past, USGS maps only identified natural earthquake hazards.

The U.S. Geological Survey will award up to $7 million in grants for earthquake hazards research in 2017.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck in Oklahoma on February 13, 2016 at 11:07:06 am local time.

Globally there were 14,588 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in 2015. This worldwide number is on par with prior year averages of about 40 earthquakes per day of magnitude 4.0, or about 14,500 annually. The 2015 number may change slightly as the final results are completed by seismic analysts at the NEIC in Golden, Colorado.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — U.S. Geological Survey employees in Menlo Park, Calif. will participate in an earthquake safety drill, and test their emergency response plan as part of the Great ShakeOut on Oct. 15, an annual day of action to practice how to protect yourself from an earthquake.

Join millions of people participating in America’s PrepareAthon! on Sept. 30. This campaign encourages the nation to conduct drills, discussions and exercises to practice what to do before, during and after a disaster or emergency strikes.

One winter's night in the year 1700, a mysterious tsunami flooded fields and washed away houses in Japan. It arrived without the warning that a nearby earthquake usually provides.

MENLO PARK, Calif.— Smartphones and other personal electronic devices could, in regions where they are in widespread use, function as early warning systems for large earthquakes according to newly reported research.

MENLO PARK, California — Los teléfonos móviles y otros dispositivos electrónicos personales podrían ayudar en las regiones donde se encuentran en uso generalizado, y pueden funcionar como sistemas de alerta para terremotos mayor según la nueva investigación científica recien publicada.