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National Seismic Hazard Map Project
This map from the 2014 assessment shows how often scientists expect damaging earthquake shaking around the U.S. (Public domain.)
Introduction to the Hazard Maps
What are the USGS National Seismic Hazard Maps and how are they used?
FAQs
Click on the link and select "Earthquake Hazards" under topic.
Earthquake Monitoring Resources
Find seismic networks, real-time data, earthquake catalogs, and learn about ground deformation.
Earthquake Hazards 101-The Basics
Information on earthquake hazards, including the definition of an earthquake hazard, a hazard map, using probabilistic ground motion for hazard determination, and more.
Earthquake Hazards 201-Technical Q&A
A list of technical questions & answers about earthquake hazards.
Related Content
Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2018
Seismic-hazard maps for the conterminous United States, 2014
Seismic-Hazard Maps for the Conterminous United States, 2008
Maps Showing Seismic Landslide Hazards in Anchorage, Alaska
Seismic-hazard maps for the conterminous United States
Seismic Landslide Hazard for the City of Berkeley, California
Seismic Landslide Hazard for the Cities of Oakland and Piedmont, California
Seismic-hazard maps for Hawaii
Seismic-hazard maps for Alaska and the Aleutian Islands
Maps showing seismicity and tectonic stresses along the Eurasia-Africa plate boundary
2022 Emergency Assistance Act — USGS recovery activities
The HayWired Earthquake Scenario—Societal Consequences
Earthquake information products and tools from the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS)
Earthquake forecast for the Wasatch Front region of the Intermountain West
ShakeAlert—An earthquake early warning system for the United States west coast
The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and tsunamis: a modern perspective and enduring legacies
United States National Seismic Hazard Maps
Progress toward a safer future since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
The 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, Earthquake Sequence
On February 6, 2023, a M 7.8 earthquake occurred in southern Turkey near the northern border of Syria. This earthquake was followed about 9 hours later by a M 7.5 earthquake approximately 90 km to the north. This interactive geonarrative describes the tectonic setting in the region, past seismicity in the area, and details of the earthquake rupture.
Seismotectonics of the Eastern Margin of the Australia Plate
The Australia-Pacific margin is an intensely active plate boundary that produces some of the world's most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Explore this interactive geonarrative (Esri storymap).
SLAB2.0 Interactive Map
Subduction zones are home to the most seismically active faults on the planet. The shallow megathrust interface of subduction zones host our largest earthquakes, and are the only faults capable of M9+ ruptures.
2020-2021 Alaska Peninsula Earthquake Sequence
A summary of the earthquake sequence in the Alaska Peninsula during 2020 and 2021. On 29 July 2021, a magnitude (M) 8.2 earthquake occurred southeast of Perryville, Alaska, (south of the Alaska Peninsula). This event was preceded in 2020 by two nearby earthquakes. The first was a M7.8 earthquake (22 July 2020), followed three months later by a M7.6 earthquake (19 October 2020).
Earthquake Tour of Santa Rosa, California
This geonarrative (Esri Story Map) takes you on a virtual tour of 1906 and 1969 earthquake damage in Santa Rosa, shows examples of buildings that have been retrofitted to protect against future earthquake shaking, and highlights locations where faulting from large earthquakes and slow fault slip (creep) is expressed at the ground surface.
The 2019 Ridgecrest, California, Earthquake Sequence
This USGS geonarrative (Esri Story Map) summarizes the USGS response and findings after the M6.4 on July 4 and M7.1 on July 6, 2019 in Searles Valley, Southern California, and includes links to USGS research publications and data releases.
What to Expect in a Big Urban Earthquake
How do we get ready for big earthquakes in populated areas? An important first step is to learn what a big earthquake could be like. These pages summarize the main patterns — the earthquake effects that show up again and again. Here, urban is shorthand for “cities, towns, and suburbs”.
The HayWired Scenario: An Urban Earthquake in a Connected World - A Geonarrative
What might it be like the next time the Hayward Fault has a large earthquake? A geonarrative and related imagery examines a hypothetical earthquake, the magnitude 7.0 HayWired earthquake scenario.
1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Photo Tour of Anchorage
On March 27, 1964 the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history struck southcentral Alaska. Click on the photos or the numbers to take a tour.
Related Content
- Maps
Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2018
This map illustrates 119 years of global seismicity in the context of global plate tectonics and the Earth’s physiography. Primarily designed for use by earth scientists, engineers, and educators, this map provides a comprehensive overview of strong (magnitude [M] 5.5 and larger) earthquakes since 1900. The map clearly identifies the locations of the “great” earthquakes (M 8.0 and larger) and theSeismic-hazard maps for the conterminous United States, 2014
The maps presented here provide an update to the 2008 data contained in U.S Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3195 (http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3195/).Probabilistic seismic-hazard maps were prepared for the conterminous United States for 2014 portraying peak horizontal acceleration and horizontal spectral response acceleration for 0.2- and 1.0-second periods with probabilities of exceedSeismic-Hazard Maps for the Conterminous United States, 2008
Probabilistic seismic-hazard maps were prepared for the conterminous United States portraying peak horizontal acceleration and horizontal spectral response acceleration for 0.2- and 1.0-second periods with probabilities of exceedance of 10 percent in 50 years and 2 percent in 50 years. All of the maps were prepared by combining the hazard derived from spatially smoothed historic seismicity with thMaps Showing Seismic Landslide Hazards in Anchorage, Alaska
The devastating landslides that accompanied the great 1964 Alaska earthquake showed that seismically triggered landslides are one of the greatest geologic hazards in Anchorage. Maps quantifying seismic landslide hazards are therefore important for planning, zoning, and emergency-response preparation. The accompanying maps portray seismic landslide hazards for the following conditions: (1) deep, trSeismic-hazard maps for the conterminous United States
This publication consists of six map sheets (titles and text included in this document, below), geospatial datasets, and metadata. The geospatial datasets consist of ArcInfo export files for the seismic-hazard point and polygon data shown on the sheets. Probabilistic seismic-hazard maps were prepared for the conterminous United States portraying peak horizontal acceleration and horizontal spectraSeismic Landslide Hazard for the City of Berkeley, California
This map describes the possible hazard from earthquake-induced landslides for the city of Berkeley, CA. The hazard depicted by this map was modeled for a scenario corresponding to an M=7.1 earthquake on the Hayward, CA fault. This scenario magnitude is associated with complete rupture of the northern and southern segments of the Hayward fault, an event that has an estimated return period oSeismic Landslide Hazard for the Cities of Oakland and Piedmont, California
This map describes the possible hazard from earthquake-induced landslides for the cities of Oakland and Piedmont, CA. The hazard depicted by this map was modeled for a scenario corresponding to an M=7.1 earthquake on the Hayward, CA fault. This scenario magnitude is associated with complete rupture of the northern and southern segments of the Hayward fault, an event that has an estimated returSeismic-hazard maps for Hawaii
Probabilistic seismic hazard maps were prepared for Hawaii portraying peak horizontal ground acceleration and horizontal spectral response acceleration for 0.2, 0.3, and 1.0 second periods with probabilities of exceedance of 10% in 50 years and 2% in 50 years. This particular data set is for horizontal spectral response acceleration for 1.0 second period with a 10% probability of exceedanceSeismic-hazard maps for Alaska and the Aleutian Islands
Probabilistic seismic hazard maps were prepared for Alaska portraying peak horizontal ground acceleration and horizontal spectral response acceleration for 0.2, 0.3, and 1.0 second periods with probabilities of exceedance of 10% in 50 years and 2% in 50 years. This particular data set is for horizontal spectral response acceleration for 1.0 second period with a 10% probability of exceedanceMaps showing seismicity and tectonic stresses along the Eurasia-Africa plate boundary
No abstract available. - Multimedia
- Publications
2022 Emergency Assistance Act — USGS recovery activities
The Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 117-43) was enacted on September 30, 2021. The U.S. Geological Survey received $26.3 million in supplemental funding to repair and replace facilities and equipment, collect high-resolution elevation data, and complete scientific assessments to support direct recovery and rebuilding decisions in areas affected by dAuthorsJo Ellen Hinck, Joseph StachyraThe HayWired Earthquake Scenario—Societal Consequences
The HayWired earthquake scenario, led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), anticipates the impacts of a hypothetical moment magnitude 7.0 earthquake on the Hayward Fault. The fault runs along the east side of California’s San Francisco Bay and is among the most active and dangerous in the United States, passing through a densely urbanized and interconnected region. A scientifically realistic scenAuthorsAnne M. Wein, Joseph L. Jones, Laurie A. Johnson, Cynthia Kroll, Jennifer A. Strauss, David Witkowski, Dale A. CoxEarthquake information products and tools from the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS)
This Fact Sheet describes post-earthquake products and tools provided by the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) through the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program. The focus is on products that provide situational awareness immediately after significant earthquakes.AuthorsLisa A. WaldEarthquake forecast for the Wasatch Front region of the Intermountain West
The Working Group on Utah Earthquake Probabilities has assessed the probability of large earthquakes in the Wasatch Front region. There is a 43 percent probability of one or more magnitude 6.75 or greater earthquakes and a 57 percent probability of one or more magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes in the region in the next 50 years. These results highlight the threat of large earthquakes in the regAuthorsChristopher B. DuRossShakeAlert—An earthquake early warning system for the United States west coast
Earthquake early warning systems use earthquake science and the technology of monitoring systems to alert devices and people when shaking waves generated by an earthquake are expected to arrive at their location. The seconds to minutes of advance warning can allow people and systems to take actions to protect life and property from destructive shaking. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboAuthorsErin R. Burkett, Douglas D. Given, Lucile M. JonesThe 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and tsunamis: a modern perspective and enduring legacies
The magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake that struck south-central Alaska at 5:36 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 1964, is the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history and the second-largest earthquake recorded with modern instruments. The earthquake was felt throughout most of mainland Alaska, as far west as Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands some 480 miles away, and at Seattle, Washington, moreAuthorsThomas M. Brocher, John R. Filson, Gary S. Fuis, Peter J. Haeussler, Thomas L. Holzer, George Plafker, J. Luke BlairUnited States National Seismic Hazard Maps
The U.S. Geological Survey?s maps of earthquake shaking hazards provide information essential to creating and updating the seismic design provisions of building codes and insurance rates used in the United States. Periodic revisions of these maps incorporate the results of new research. Buildings, bridges, highways, and utilities built to meet modern seismic design provisions are better able to wiAuthorsM.D. PetersenProgress toward a safer future since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
No abstract available.AuthorsRobert A. Page, Peter H. Stauffer, James W. Hendley - Web Tools
The 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, Earthquake Sequence
On February 6, 2023, a M 7.8 earthquake occurred in southern Turkey near the northern border of Syria. This earthquake was followed about 9 hours later by a M 7.5 earthquake approximately 90 km to the north. This interactive geonarrative describes the tectonic setting in the region, past seismicity in the area, and details of the earthquake rupture.
Seismotectonics of the Eastern Margin of the Australia Plate
The Australia-Pacific margin is an intensely active plate boundary that produces some of the world's most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Explore this interactive geonarrative (Esri storymap).
SLAB2.0 Interactive Map
Subduction zones are home to the most seismically active faults on the planet. The shallow megathrust interface of subduction zones host our largest earthquakes, and are the only faults capable of M9+ ruptures.
2020-2021 Alaska Peninsula Earthquake Sequence
A summary of the earthquake sequence in the Alaska Peninsula during 2020 and 2021. On 29 July 2021, a magnitude (M) 8.2 earthquake occurred southeast of Perryville, Alaska, (south of the Alaska Peninsula). This event was preceded in 2020 by two nearby earthquakes. The first was a M7.8 earthquake (22 July 2020), followed three months later by a M7.6 earthquake (19 October 2020).
Earthquake Tour of Santa Rosa, California
This geonarrative (Esri Story Map) takes you on a virtual tour of 1906 and 1969 earthquake damage in Santa Rosa, shows examples of buildings that have been retrofitted to protect against future earthquake shaking, and highlights locations where faulting from large earthquakes and slow fault slip (creep) is expressed at the ground surface.
The 2019 Ridgecrest, California, Earthquake Sequence
This USGS geonarrative (Esri Story Map) summarizes the USGS response and findings after the M6.4 on July 4 and M7.1 on July 6, 2019 in Searles Valley, Southern California, and includes links to USGS research publications and data releases.
What to Expect in a Big Urban Earthquake
How do we get ready for big earthquakes in populated areas? An important first step is to learn what a big earthquake could be like. These pages summarize the main patterns — the earthquake effects that show up again and again. Here, urban is shorthand for “cities, towns, and suburbs”.
The HayWired Scenario: An Urban Earthquake in a Connected World - A Geonarrative
What might it be like the next time the Hayward Fault has a large earthquake? A geonarrative and related imagery examines a hypothetical earthquake, the magnitude 7.0 HayWired earthquake scenario.
1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Photo Tour of Anchorage
On March 27, 1964 the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history struck southcentral Alaska. Click on the photos or the numbers to take a tour.
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