Tennessee spans two active areas: the New Madrid zone in the west and the Eastern Tennessee seismic zone, one of the busiest in the eastern 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 Tennessee.
What the record shows for Tennessee
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Tennessee - about one every 5 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 Tennessee (most recently 1895). The most significant was in 1895 near Charleston, Mo, triggered by an M5.8 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Tennessee hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Tennessee - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Tennessee - FAQ
Is Tennessee at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 5 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Tennessee?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Tennessee in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Tennessee get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1895 (most recently 1895) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Tennessee?
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.