Ohio has moderate seismicity in its northeast and west, with some events linked to deep fluid injection.
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 Ohio.
What the record shows for Ohio
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 2 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Ohio - 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 3 tsunamis within 300 km of Ohio between 1823 and 1912. The most significant was in 1912 near Southern Shore, Lake Erie (Ohio).
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Ohio hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Ohio - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Ohio - FAQ
Is Ohio 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 Ohio?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Ohio in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Ohio get tsunamis?
Yes - 3 tsunamis since 1823 (most recently 1912) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Ohio?
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.