USGS Earthquake Reports: Latest Updates and Safety Tips in the United States

2024-04-16 21:05:00

The United States experiences a series of natural phenomena that, on some occasions, represent a danger to the population, including earthquakes. The most common in the United States, as they occur daily in different intensities. For this reason, the USGS (US Geological Survey, for its acronym in English) analyzes each of these earthquakes by collecting data in real time such as the exact time, the location of the epicenter and the magnitude from the states of California, Hawaii, Texas, Alaska and New York, where a strong 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in early April. In that context, here I share with you the latest USGS report on today’s earthquakes, Tuesday, April 16.

Tremor in the US today, Tuesday, April 16, via USGS

Follow the official USGS report on the latest confirmed earthquakes in the US this day from the states of California, Hawaii, Texas, Alaska and New York. Data corroborated with the Latest Earthquakes interactive map and the ShakeAlert alert system.

Earthquake DataLast earthquake in the USDate and local time2024-04-16 | 12:43:11 (UTC-05:00)Magnitude3.4 degreesLatitude and longitude36.117°N, 117.886°OEpicenter10 km northeast of Coso Junction, CaliforniaDepth6.0 kmSourceUnited State Geological Survey

These are the official USGS reports on the latest earthquakes in the US.

• M 2.8 | 10 km NE of Coso Junction, CA | 2024-04-16 10:24:15 (UTC-05:00)
• M 3.9 | 9 km SE of Coso Junction, CA | 2024-04-16 10:23:26 (UTC-05:00)
• M 3.4 | 10 km SE of Coso Junction, CA | 2024-04-16 10:23:03 (UTC-05:00)
• M 2.8 | 1 km W of View Park-Windsor Hills, CA | 2024-04-16 10:19:10 (UTC-05:00)
• M 2.7 | 6 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 2024-04-16 09:40:54 (UTC-05:00)

When were the New York and New Jersey earthquakes?

On Friday, April 5, 2024, a strong earthquake with magnitude 4.8 surprised American citizens living in the states of New York and New Jersey. According to USGS scientists, it is the strongest earthquake in the last 40 years in New York territory and the causes that produced this telluric movement are still being studied. At the moment, the United States Geological Survey is analyzing the theory that it might have been a “sleeping” fault.

“We know that there are no active faults in the region where New York is located, but there are many very old inactive faults in the area, millions of years old, and we are analyzing this,” said Sara McBride, representative of the USGS Earthquake Program in an interview for the Telemundo network.

“It may be possible that one of these old dormant faults has been reactivated and we are looking at this possibility,” he added.

According to the latest study from the National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM), around 230 million people in the US might be affected by potential large-magnitude earthquakes within 100 years.

“The new NSHM includes more faults, better characterized land surfaces, and computational advances that provide the most detailed view ever seen of the earthquake risks we face,” explained Mark Petersen, a USGS geophysicist and lead author of the NSHM study.

Why do earthquakes occur in California?

In California there are two tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is made up of most of the Pacific Ocean floor and the coast of California, while the North American Plate comprises most of the North American continent and parts of the Atlantic Ocean floor.

The main boundary between these two plates is the San Andreas Fault, which is more than 650 miles long and extends to a depth of less than 10 miles. Many other smaller faults, such as the Hayward (Northern California) and San Jacinto (Southern California), branch and join the San Andreas Fault.

Instead, the Pacific Plate is advancing northwestward past the North American Plate at a rate of regarding two inches per year. Parts of the San Andreas Fault system accommodate this movement by constant “slip” that results in many small shakes and some moderate ground tremors.

Seismic zones of the United States, according to the USGS report

The states most likely to register tremors are Texas, California, Alaska, Utah, Virgin Islands, Hawaii, among others, because they are located along the San Andreas Fault, one of the main geological faults in the country.

The USGS presented its new report on the seismic zones of the United States territory where there is a high probability of a strong earthquake. (Photo: USGS)

How should you act before, during and following an earthquake in the United States?

I share with you a useful list of good actions that you should take to be able to face a strong earthquake in the United States or any other country in the world. Put into practice the following security recommendations that I will show you below:

• Before the earthquake in the United States
• Constantly check your home’s infrastructure.
• Install security locks, cabinets and shelves.
• Store the most fragile items in safe places.
• Always have a first aid kit.
• Find an optimal meeting point where there is enough security for your family.
• Educate your family members so that they can turn off the electricity, gas and water taps.

Make a list of emergency numbers to contact doctors, police, civil protection, among others.

• During the earthquake or earthquake in the United States
• Stay away from windows, mirrors and sharp objects that might fall to the ground.
• Find shelter under a sturdy table or you can also put it under a door frame.
• Cover your head and neck with your arms.
• Avoid using elevators and take stairs during the earthquake.

Never run out of a building when the earthquake is moving.

• After the earthquake in the United States
• Seek medical help to treat people with serious injuries.
• Provide first aid and emotional support to injured people who need it.
• Do not use your mobile phone irresponsibly, this way you will avoid overloading the lines.
• Check the structural damage to your home.
• Close the faucets to prevent possible leaks of electricity, water or gas.

Do not light candles, matches or other items that might cause a fire.

USGS Seismic Hazard Maps Explained

Bibliography of earthquakes in the USA
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