Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

Question:  Will there ever be an earthquake in the eastern US?
 jackie l romeo

Answer 1:
Absolutely!  Earthquakes occur much less frequently
in the eastern United States compared to the western
United States but they do occur there.  According to
"Earthquake History of the United States" by Coffman
and Hake, there were 37 earthquakes in the state
of New York large enough to be felt
from 1638 to 1970.  Most of these occurred in
upstate New York, I believe.  At least one earthquake
caused damage in New York City, knocking chimneys down.
Other eastern states have similar earthquake
histories.
 
The largest earthquake to have occurred on the eastern
seaboard was the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina earthquake.
The earthquake was not recorded by seismic instruments,
but it is believed to have been about the size of the
magnitude 7, October 1989, earthquake that
was located south of San Francisco.  (The earthquake
that stopped the World Series.)  The Charleston
earthquake killed over 60 people and was felt as far
away as Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Cuba.

One of the important questions that seismologists
(people who study earthquakes) are trying to answer is
whether an earthquake similar to the Charleston earthquake
could occur elsewhere on the eastern coast.  Could
an earthquake of this size occur near Boston or New
York City??  This is an important question because
many of the buildings and structures in the eastern
United States are not as resistant to earthquake
shaking as they might be.
 
Thanks for the excellent question!
 
-Grant Lindley

Answer 2:
I read in a local newspaper that there was a very small quake
(on the order of 3 or so on the Richter scale) a few weeks ago
in western Pennsylvania. A little damage but no one hurt (it was
in a remote area). I don't have a reference though so I don't know if it's
true.
 
-dr topper