Although Monday’s quake had little impact beyond the momentary shaking many felt, it is a fairly sizable tremor for the region, says Daniel Aldrich, director of Northeastern University’s Resilience Studies Program.
The state of Maine was hit by a rare 3.8 magnitude earthquake Monday morning, a tremor that could be felt across the New England region.
It is the second quake to shake a region that sees relatively few seismic events compared to other parts of the country, after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded in New Jersey last April.
The quake, centered near Maine’s York Harbor, struck at 10:22 a.m., and could be felt as far north as Portland and south as Boston.
Daniel Aldrich, a Northeastern University professor, director of the university’s Resilience Studies Program and co-director at the Global Resilience Institute, says that although Monday’s quake had little impact beyond the momentary shaking many felt, it is a fairly sizable tremor for the region.
“There doesn’t appear to be any injuries, broken glass, broken pipes or flooding, so that’s good,” Aldrich says.
But he notes that if the quake had struck farther offshore, it might have triggered a tsunami warning.
“I think this is another moment for us to reflect on the question, if there were a problem, do we have a plan,” Aldrich says. “The more we see these larger shocks, the more it should get us thinking about how to prepare for a future emergency.”
The U.S. Geological Survey outlines several steps to take to prepare for an earthquake.
Officials confirm an earthquake off the coast of Maine occurred at 10:22 AM this morning. Please do not call 911 unless there is an emergency. If you would like to report feeling the earthquake, check out the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s website:https://t.co/vOWP6P7Ki8 pic.twitter.com/EkND0Vpnn0— Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) (@MaineEMA) January 27, 2025
Officials confirm an earthquake off the coast of Maine occurred at 10:22 AM this morning. Please do not call 911 unless there is an emergency. If you would like to report feeling the earthquake, check out the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s website:https://t.co/vOWP6P7Ki8 pic.twitter.com/EkND0Vpnn0
There are some measures that New Englanders can take that could help mitigate the effects of a major earthquake, should one strike the region. Residents should learn how to turn off their utilities in the event of a disaster by locating the circuit breakers’ in their homes, Aldrich says. Countries such as Japan have invested in sensor technology that automatically turns off power when an earthquake strikes, he says.
It’s also important to have an evacuation plan, Aldrich says. That can include sketching out evacuation routes and keeping a checklist of important documents or supplies needed during an evacuation.
In areas prone to earthquakes, ensuring that shelves and other furniture are bolted to the walls can help protect possessions and guard against injury, Aldrich says.
The Maine earthquake “is also a test for local governments,” he adds. Are there evacuation signs that help direct traffic — and tsunami warnings to indicate sea level height? Are local search-and-rescue operations ready to go in the event of a disaster?”
“These are checklists for both residents and for local decision-makers,” Aldrich says.
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While New England has seen few earthquakes on the scale of the ones in Maine and New Jersey, it does experience “microearthquakes,” described as less than 2.0 in magnitude, Aldrich says.
The U.S. Geological Survey notes that severe earthquakes have occurred in the eastern U.S. before, citing the 6.0 magnitude quake that struck north of Boston in 1755. “Damaging earthquakes have occurred historically in nearly every eastern State,” the agency says.
“This quake is a good launching point for a discussion,” he says.