Western Kentucky lies within the New Madrid seismic zone, the most active earthquake area in the central US.
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 Kentucky.
What the record shows for Kentucky
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 8 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Kentucky - about one every 3 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 Kentucky 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.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Kentucky hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Kentucky - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Kentucky - FAQ
Is Kentucky at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 3 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Kentucky?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Kentucky in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Kentucky get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Kentucky in the NOAA database - though coastal states can still be exposed after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Kentucky?
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.