South Carolina’s Charleston area produced the powerful 1886 earthquake and remains the Southeast’s most notable seismic zone.
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 South Carolina.
What the record shows for South Carolina
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 2 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of South Carolina - 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 1 tsunami within 300 km of South 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 South Carolina hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in South Carolina - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in South Carolina - FAQ
Is South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to South Carolina in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does South 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 South 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.