Southern Illinois lies near the Wabash Valley and New Madrid seismic zones, the source of the region’s largest potential earthquakes.
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 Illinois.
What the record shows for Illinois
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Illinois - 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 1 tsunami within 300 km of Illinois (most recently 1954). The most significant was in 1954 near Michigan City, In (Lake Michigan), which killed around 7 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Illinois hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Illinois - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Illinois - FAQ
Is Illinois 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 Illinois?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Illinois in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Illinois get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1954 (most recently 1954) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 7 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Illinois?
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.