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Earthquake Hazards Program

The USGS monitors and reports on earthquakes, assesses earthquake impacts and hazards, and conducts targeted research on the causes and effects of earthquakes. We undertake these activities as part of the larger National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), a four-agency partnership established by Congress.

News

USGS seeking Loma Prieta felt reports from 35-year-old earthquake

USGS seeking Loma Prieta felt reports from 35-year-old earthquake

Loma Prieta Earthquake 35th Anniversary Compilation

Loma Prieta Earthquake 35th Anniversary Compilation

The scoop on what USGS hopes to find in a Summit County trench

The scoop on what USGS hopes to find in a Summit County trench

Publications

Precariously balanced rocks in northern New York and Vermont, U.S.A.: Ground-motion constraints and implications for fault sources

Precariously balanced rocks (PBRs) and other fragile geologic features have the potential to constrain the maximum intensity of earthquake ground shaking over millennia. Such constraints may be particularly useful in the eastern United States (U.S.), where few earthquake‐source faults are reliably identified, and moderate earthquakes can be felt at great distances due to low seismic attenuation. W
Authors
Devin McPhillips, Thomas L. Pratt

Distinguishing natural sources from anthropogenic noise in seismic data

No abstract available.
Authors
Sean Maher, Margaret Elizabeth Glasgow, Elizabeth S. Cochran, Zhigang Peng

Plan to coordinate post-earthquake investigations supported by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)

IntroductionThis report presents a plan supported by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) to coordinate domestic and international post-earthquake investigations (herein called “the Plan”). Post-earthquake scientific and engineering investigations are undertaken to capture critical information to understand the causes and impacts of the event, lessons from which can substantia
Authors
Chris Poland, Jonathan D. Bray, Laurie Johnson, Sissy Nikolaou, Ellen Rathje, Brian Sherrod

Science

M 6.9 October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake ended decades of tranquility in the San Francisco Bay region. It was a wakeup call to prepare for the potentially even more devastating shocks that are inevitable in the future. Since 1989, the work of the U.S. Geological Survey and other organizations has improved understanding of the seismic threat in the Bay region, promoted awareness of earthquake hazards, and...
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M 6.9 October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake ended decades of tranquility in the San Francisco Bay region. It was a wakeup call to prepare for the potentially even more devastating shocks that are inevitable in the future. Since 1989, the work of the U.S. Geological Survey and other organizations has improved understanding of the seismic threat in the Bay region, promoted awareness of earthquake hazards, and...
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Earthquake Response and Investigations

Post-earthquake scientific and engineering investigations are undertaken by the USGS and its partners to capture critical information to understand the causes and impacts of the event, lessons from which can substantially improve the Nation’s resilience after future earthquakes.
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Earthquake Response and Investigations

Post-earthquake scientific and engineering investigations are undertaken by the USGS and its partners to capture critical information to understand the causes and impacts of the event, lessons from which can substantially improve the Nation’s resilience after future earthquakes.
Learn More

Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards

Alaska has more large earthquakes than the rest of the United States combined. More than three-quarters of the state’s population live in an area that can experience a magnitude 7 earthquake. Our research provides objective science that helps stakeholders prepare for and mitigate the effects of future earthquakes and tsunamis, which bolsters the economic health and well-being of Alaska and the...
link

Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards

Alaska has more large earthquakes than the rest of the United States combined. More than three-quarters of the state’s population live in an area that can experience a magnitude 7 earthquake. Our research provides objective science that helps stakeholders prepare for and mitigate the effects of future earthquakes and tsunamis, which bolsters the economic health and well-being of Alaska and the...
Learn More

Multimedia

shakeout manual page 4
Page 4 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Page 4 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
shakeout manual cover page
Cover of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual.
Cover of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual.
shakeout manual page 2
Page 2 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Page 2 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
shakeout manual page 3
Page 3 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Page 3 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
shakeout manual page 4
Page 5 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Page 5 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
shakeout manual page 5
Page 6 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Page 6 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
shakeout manual page 8
Page 8 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Page 8 of fictional Great ShakeOut instruction manual
Loma Prieta ShakeMovie ShakeMovie Animation: 1989 M6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake
ShakeMovie Animation: 1989 M6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake
"Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition" Banner
"Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition" Banner
"Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition" Banner
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