Indiana’s southwest sits near the Wabash Valley seismic zone and can feel quakes from the broader New Madrid region.
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 Indiana.
What the record shows for Indiana
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 4 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Indiana - 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 Indiana (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 Indiana hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Indiana - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Indiana - FAQ
Is Indiana 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 Indiana?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Indiana in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Indiana 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 Indiana?
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.