Texas has seen a major rise in earthquakes in West Texas and the Permian Basin, largely induced by oil and gas wastewater disposal.
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 Texas.
What the record shows for Texas
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 25 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Texas - roughly 1 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 333 km of Texas in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Texas hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Texas - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Texas - FAQ
Is Texas at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Texas?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Texas in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Texas get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 333 km of Texas in the NOAA database - though coastal states can still be exposed after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Texas?
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.