Tennessee’s Hidden Threat: Preparing for Earthquakes in Seismic Zones

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is recognizing February 2025 as Earthquake Awareness Month and reminding Tennesseans to prioritize preparedness before the event of an earthquake. Tennessee is joined in this recognition by the other states that are part of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC - See More).

“Tennessee is committed to enhancing public safety and disaster preparedness for the hazards we face. In the Central United States, strong earthquakes may not occur frequently, but when they do, their impact can be devastating,” said TEMA Director and CUSEC Board Chairman Patrick C. Sheehan. “We encourage Tennesseans to know the risks earthquakes pose and how to protect themselves before the ground starts to shake.”

Tennessee has two seismic zones – the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in the west and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone in the east (see more). By acting today, you can reduce your vulnerability to earthquakes that may happen in the future. To protect your family and home, consider:

• Securing heavy items like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions, and objects that hang on walls.
• Storing heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.
• Making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake.
• Obtaining an earthquake insurance policy, especially if you are located in a seismic zone.

Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) reminds consumers that earthquake insurance can lower consumers’ financial burden in the event of an earthquake. Traditional homeowners and business insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage.

“Preparedness is critical to your resilience after a natural disaster,” said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “During Earthquake Awareness Month, I urge consumers to prepare for the potential financial impacts of earthquakes by learning more about earthquake insurance today and making sure that they have adequate insurance coverage in the event of an earthquake.” 

While earthquakes most often occur with little to no warning, knowing what to do if one occurs will help protect yourself and your family. Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with family, friends, and coworkers.

• DROP to the ground,
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.