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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

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

The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Anchorage Walking Tour

The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Anchorage Walking Tour

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

M6.9 October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

On October 17, 1989, at 5:04:15 p.m. (PDT), a magnitude 6.9 earthquake severely shook the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions. The epicenter was located near Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, approximately 14 km (9 mi) northeast of Santa Cruz and 96 km (60 mi) south-southeast of San Francisco. It was the strongest earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay region since the M 7.9...
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M6.9 October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

On October 17, 1989, at 5:04:15 p.m. (PDT), a magnitude 6.9 earthquake severely shook the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions. The epicenter was located near Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, approximately 14 km (9 mi) northeast of Santa Cruz and 96 km (60 mi) south-southeast of San Francisco. It was the strongest earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay region since the M 7.9...
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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...
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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

"Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition" Banner
"Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition" Banner
"Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition" Banner
Video Thumbnail for the video "USGS NEIC Earthquake Response"
Video Thumbnail for the video "USGS NEIC Earthquake Response"
Video Thumbnail for the video "USGS NEIC Earthquake Response"
ShakeMap of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
ShakeMap of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
ShakeMap of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Cover of International Macroseismic Scale 2024
Cover of International Macroseismic Scale 2024
Cover of International Macroseismic Scale 2024
ShakeMap of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake with Macroseismic data
ShakeMap of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake with Macroseismic data
ShakeMap of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake with Macroseismic data
Video Thumbnail for the video "USGS NEIC Earthquake Response" USGS NEIC Earthquake Response
USGS NEIC Earthquake Response
Video Thumbnail for the video "USGS NEIC Earthquake Response" USGS NEIC Earthquake Response (AD)
USGS NEIC Earthquake Response (AD)
Thumbnail image of submitted "Meet the USGS Interns: Earthquakes Edition" video Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition!
Meet the USGS Interns - Earthquakes Edition!
Thumbnail image of submitted "Meet the USGS Interns: Earthquakes Edition" video
Meet USGS Interns: Earthquakes Edition (video thumbnail)
Meet USGS Interns: Earthquakes Edition (video thumbnail)
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