U.S. Geological Survey News

Quakes From Hawaiian Volcano May Signal New Eruption

A series of earthquakes and shifting ground on the slopes of Kilauea have scientists wondering what will happen next at one of the world’s most active volcanos. A lake of lava near the summit of Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island …

Toward Sensible Risk Management of Earthquake Risk in Energy Production

Underground disposal of waste water produced from oil and natural gas wells has been blamed for triggering thousands of small earthquakes in Oklahoma and a number of other U.S. states since 2009. Heightened seismic activity corresponds closely with the timeframe …

Northern Washington Rattled By Small Quake

A relatively small magnitude 3.7 earthquake shook the ground north of Seattle on Thursday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake at 1:42 a.m. was about 8 miles northeast of Bryant, in Snohomish County. About 50 people in Arlington, about …

Small Quake Rattles Remote Southern California Region

A small earthquake has rattled the Hemet area of Southern California and hundreds of people have reported feeling it. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the 3.9-magnitude temblor struck shortly about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday and was centered about four miles north …

3.9M Quake Shakes Buildings Across Southern California

A small earthquake has rattled the greater Los Angeles area, shaking buildings and waking residents over the weekend. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 hit …

Small quake Strikes Southern California, No Damage Reports

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake hit Carson, Calif. early Thursday, but no damage was reported. The quake was widely felt from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach. It hit at 7:01 a.m. at a depth of 9.1 miles, according to the …

Scientists: Western Migration Has Put 143M Americans in Quake-Prone Areas

More than 143 million people in the mainland states now live on shaky ground, earthquake scientists say. That’s because more people have moved into the quake-prone West Coast and some quake zones were recently expanded, according to researchers from the …

California Department of Insurance Approves CEA Rate Reduction

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones approved a statewide rate reduction of 10 percent for earthquake insurance policies issued by the California Earthquake Authority. The reduction is effective Jan. 1, 2016. Jones also approved additional CEA coverage options for consumers, including …

Pacific Northwest Study Says More Could Survive Tsunami if They Can Just Walk Faster

About 5,500 more people could survive a major tsunami hitting the Pacific Northwest if they just walk a little faster to higher ground after roads are knocked out, a new study shows. The report published Monday in the Proceedings of …

M3.5 Earthquake Felt Across Los Angeles Area

A small earthquake was felt across a wide area of Los Angeles on Sunday night, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injury. The magnitude-3.5 quake struck at 9:17 p.m., the U.S. Geological Survey said. Los Angeles city …