NJDEP - New Jersey Geological and Water Survey - Damaging Earthquakes Felt in NJ

Damaging Earthquakes Felt in New Jersey
Location Year Magnitude¹ Intensity²
Max. / in NJ
Comments

New York
City 1737 VII / VII Chimneys down in New York City. Felt in
Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.

Cape Ann,
Massachusetts .

1755 6.0 VIII / IV Chimneys and brick buildings down in Boston.
Its tsunami grounded boats in the West Indies

West of New
York City

1783 VII / VII Felt from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania.

New Madrid,
Missouri

1811-1812 8.0-8.8 XII / IV-V Four great earthquakes. Changed course of
Mississippi River. Town of New Madrid
destroyed. Loss of life low due to sparse
settlement. Damage in Chicago.

New York
City

1884 5.5 VII / VII Toppled chimneys in New York City and New
Jersey. Cracked masonry from Hartford,
Connecticut to West Chester, Pennsylvania. Felt
from Maine to Virginia, and eastern Ohio.

Charleston,
South Carolina

1886 7.7 X / IV Sixty killed. Over 10,000 chimneys down.

New Jersey
Coast

1927 VII / VII Several chimneys down from Asbury Park to
Long Branch.

**Damaging Earthquakes Felt in New Jersey**
Location	Year	Magnitude¹	Intensity² Max. / in NJ	Comments
New York City	1737		VII / VII	Chimneys down in New York City. Felt in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Cape Ann, Massachusetts .	1755	6.0	VIII / IV	Chimneys and brick buildings down in Boston. Its tsunami grounded boats in the West Indies
West of New York City	1783		VII / VII	Felt from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania.
New Madrid, Missouri	1811-1812	8.0-8.8	XII / IV-V	Four great earthquakes. Changed course of Mississippi River. Town of New Madrid destroyed. Loss of life low due to sparse settlement. Damage in Chicago.
New York City	1884	5.5	VII / VII	Toppled chimneys in New York City and New Jersey. Cracked masonry from Hartford, Connecticut to West Chester, Pennsylvania. Felt from Maine to Virginia, and eastern Ohio.
Charleston, South Carolina	1886	7.7	X / IV	Sixty killed. Over 10,000 chimneys down.
New Jersey Coast	1927		VII / VII	Several chimneys down from Asbury Park to Long Branch.

1 Richter Scale
2 Modified Mercalli Scale

Earthquake Frequency Worldwide¹
Description Magnitude Average Annually

Great 8 and higher 1 per year

Major 7 - 7.9 18

Strong 6 - 6.9 120

Moderate 5 - 5.9 800

Light 4 - 4.9 6,200 (estimate)

Minor 3 - 3.9 49,000 (estimate)

Very Minor 2 - 2.9 1,000 per day

------ 1 - 1.9 8,000 per day

Microearthquakes less than 1 60,000 per day

**Earthquake Frequency Worldwide¹**
Description	Magnitude	Average Annually
Great	8 and higher	1 per year
Major	7 - 7.9	18
Strong	6 - 6.9	120
Moderate	5 - 5.9	800
Light	4 - 4.9	6,200 (estimate)
Minor	3 - 3.9	49,000 (estimate)
Very Minor	2 - 2.9	1,000 per day
------	1 - 1.9	8,000 per day
Microearthquakes	less than 1	60,000 per day

1 Based on observations since 1900. Modified from United States Geological Survey, internet
address: wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/general/handouts/faq.html