How common are earthquakes on the East Coast?
Earthquakes are not as common on the East Coast and they are a surprise when they happen.
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A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck 10 miles off the coast of York, Maine on Monday.
The earthquake was recorded at 10:22 a.m. on Monday and was about 10 kilometers southeast of York Harbor, according to USGS. It shook at a depth of 13.2 km. There is no tsunami danger from this earthquake.
The earthquake was originally reported as a 4.1 magnitude quake by USGS and then downgraded.
People across New Hampshire reported feeling the earthquake.
The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) said that New Hampshire 911 did not receive any calls about injury or damage as of 10:45 a.m. They encouraged residents to be prepared for all types of hazards, including earthquakes.
“Include all hazards when you are creating a family emergency plan,” said HSEM Director Robert Buxton. “You should also hold regular drills to practice what to do during an earthquake. It’s the best way to keep you and your family safe.”
Local schools, fire departments react
Staff at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire pulled the fire alarm after shaking began and had the entire school briefly evacuate, according to superintendent of schools Zach McLaughlin. No other school in Portsmouth evacuated during the course of the earthquake.
“The reality is, as New Englanders, many of whom have lived here our whole lives, this might be everybody’s first earthquake experience,” McLaughlin said Monday morning. “I think folks did the right thing but once it was clear that we were in good condition, folks returned to the building.”
City school department officials have not found any property damage in any of the school buildings thus far in the wake of the quake, McLaughlin added.
Portsmouth Fire Department Chief Bill McQuillen reported there had been no calls regarding personal injuries or property damage as of approximately 11 a.m. Monday.
The city sent out alerts to residents and automated messages urging any personal injuries or structural damages to be reported to authorities.
“We wanted to try and get out the word as quickly as possible and make sure the city sent out a message as soon as possible,” McQuillen said.
Over the Piscataqua River, calls were made to Kittery, Maine’s fire department but no injuries were reported and no property damage had been found.
“Our dispatch center took a lot of calls from concerned citizens reporting that they think something happened at their property,” Kittery fire Chief Craig Alfis stated. “So far everything has stabilized out and our dispatchers are back to normal operation. We haven’t been out on a call in 15 minutes so fingers crossed we’re past that.”
No calls had been made expressing concern about the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, per Alfis.
“Reports are coming in from various parts of town about noticeable shaking. We are aware of the earthquake and are actively assessing impacts. Please only contact public safety dispatch if you have an emergency,” the town of Kittery advised in an email.
Where was the NH earthquake? How far did it reach?
According to the USGS, Monday morning’s earthquake originated off the southeast coast of York Harbor, Maine.
York Harbor is about 10 miles north of the New Hampshire border.
Light shaking from the earthquake was felt as far south as Cape Cod, according to the USGS, though some people in Rhode Island also reported feeling the earthquake.
How strong was the NH earthquake?
Monday’s earthquake is being measured at 3.8 on the magnitude scale, according to the USGS.
According to Michigan Tech, earthquake magnitudes between 2.5-5.4 are often felt but typically only cause minor damage. Earthquake magnitudes measured at 7.0 and higher are considered major earthquakes.
How common are earthquakes in NH?
New Hampshire has a moderate earthquake risk based on its position in the North American plate: according to a 2019 fact sheet from the NH Department of Environmental Services, there have been 65 earthquakes above magnitude 2.1 since 1638.
New Hampshire’s earthquake risk rating is based on frequency rather than intensity.
What was the biggest earthquake in NH history?
While earthquakes in New Hampshire tend to be smaller, there have been similar magnitude earthquakes in the past, such as a 4.0 magnitude quake in Southern Maine in 2012 and another near Laconia in 1982.
The strongest earthquakes with an epicenter in New Hampshire in state history happened four days apart in December of 1940. Each had a magnitude of 5.8.
This story will be updated.
