A new USGS map released in January of 2024 is making waves online as people around the country discover that they are more vulnerable to earthquakes than they thought.
The map and corresponding analysis, conducted by a team of over 50 scientists and engineers, found that “nearly 75% of the U.S. could experience damaging earthquake shaking.”
Changes to this new model, updated from a 2018 version, show that damaging earthquakes could occur along the central and northeastern Atlantic coast. This region includes major cities such as Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
The new model also draws greater attention to the risk of severe earthquakes in California and Alaska. Notably, Hawaii has been assessed as having a greater earthquake risk due to volcanic eruptions and seismic activity in recent years.
Overall, the new model puts “hundreds of millions of people at risk” of damaging earthquakes.
The scientists who developed the new model caution that earthquakes are difficult to predict. The map should not be taken as a forecast. However, they believe that the updated model, which benefits from the latest technology and includes new fault lines, is the best view to-date of the earthquake threats to the United States.
The following key findings from the updated model are quoted directly from USGS.gov:
- Risk to People: Nearly 75% of the U.S. could experience potentially damaging earthquakes and intense ground shaking, putting hundreds of millions of people at risk.
- Widespread Hazard: 37 U.S. states have experienced earthquakes exceeding magnitude 5 during the last 200 years, highlighting a long history of seismic activity across this country.
- Structural Implications: The updated model will inform the future of building and structural design, offering critical insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers on how structures are planned and constructed across the U.S.
For a more detailed look into the new seismic hazard model, check out this informative writeup by the USGS.
If the USGS’s latest seismic map and model have you feeling concerned, you have options for getting ready for a potential earthquake. Head over to Guide to Disaster Readiness, where you’ll learn how to assess your disaster threats and make a plan.
