New Hampshire experiences small earthquakes fairly often for the Northeast, generally too minor to cause damage.
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 New Hampshire.
What the record shows for New Hampshire
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of New Hampshire - about one every 10 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 7 tsunamis within 300 km of New Hampshire between 1668 and 2008. The most significant was in 1755 near Massachusetts: East Of Cape Ann, triggered by an M6.0 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check New Hampshire hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in New Hampshire - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in New Hampshire - FAQ
Is New Hampshire at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 10 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in New Hampshire?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to New Hampshire in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does New Hampshire get tsunamis?
Yes - 7 tsunamis since 1668 (most recently 2008) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in New Hampshire?
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.