Earthquake Risk in Your Area
See your area's seismic hazard rating, recent quakes, and preparedness guidance.
Free · no email · uses FEMA National Risk Index + state hazard data.
What to do
Preparation, response, and recovery steps for Earthquake.
- Secure heavy furniture and water heaters to walls
- Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On
- Keep sturdy shoes and a flashlight by your bed
- Know how to shut off gas, water, and electricity
Size your supplies
Water and food targets for your household, based on FEMA guidance.
How much should you store?
FEMA's rule of thumb is 1 gallon of water per person per day. Set your household and target.
Water
28 gallons
≈ 9 cases of bottled water
Food
56k calories
4 people × 7 days, non-perishable
Pets
—
no pets set
Track all of this with reminders when items expire — free with a GridPrepped account.
Top states by earthquake risk
Alaska
AK
California
CA
Washington
WA
Nevada
NV
Oregon
OR
Frequently asked questions
Which US states have the highest earthquake risk?▾
California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and parts of Utah have the highest earthquake hazard. Notably, the New Madrid Seismic Zone (Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas) and the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone also produce significant earthquake risk in regions many don't expect.
How much warning do I get before an earthquake?▾
For most areas, none. USGS ShakeAlert provides seconds-to-tens-of-seconds of warning in California, Oregon, and Washington via Android, iPhone, or opt-in apps. Otherwise, the first indication is shaking itself — Drop, Cover, Hold On immediately.
Do I need earthquake insurance?▾
Earthquake damage is not covered by standard homeowners policies. In high-risk states, a separate earthquake policy or rider is essential. Cost varies significantly by zip code and construction type.
Data sources
Build your full preparedness plan — free
GridPrepped combines 19 government data sources with household emergency plans, supply tracking, and quick-reference PDFs. Takes 5 minutes.
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