Western North Carolina sits in the Eastern Tennessee seismic zone and sees frequent small 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 North Carolina.
What the record shows for North Carolina
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 5 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of North Carolina - 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.
The NOAA NCEI database records 1 tsunami within 300 km of North Carolina (most recently 1886). The most significant was in 1886 near Charleston, Sc, triggered by an M7.3 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check North Carolina hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in North Carolina - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in North Carolina - FAQ
Is North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to North Carolina in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does North Carolina get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1886 (most recently 1886) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in North Carolina?
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.