Colorado has scattered natural seismicity in the mountains plus induced earthquakes near energy operations in the Raton Basin.
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 Colorado.
What the record shows for Colorado
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 14 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Colorado - about one every 2 years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Colorado in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
One volcano is catalogued near Colorado, including Dotsero. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Colorado hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Colorado - or search any city or region.
Popular
Earthquake risk in Colorado - FAQ
Is Colorado at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 2 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Colorado?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Colorado in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Colorado get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Colorado in the NOAA database - though coastal states can still be exposed after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Colorado?
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.