Arkansas sits near the New Madrid seismic zone and has seen swarms of small earthquakes, some linked to wastewater injection.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Arkansas.
What the record shows for Arkansas
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 4 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Arkansas - about one every 5 years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 300 km of Arkansas (most recently 1811). The most significant was in 1811 near Ar: Ne - New Madrid Earthquakes, triggered by an M8.5 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Arkansas hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Arkansas - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Arkansas - FAQ
Is Arkansas at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 5 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Arkansas?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Arkansas in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Arkansas get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1811 (most recently 1811) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Arkansas?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.