Have you ever felt an earthquake? Most people haven’t, but for those “lucky” few, it can range anywhere from a brief blip to a life-threatening experience. Earthquakes are equally fascinating and dangerous, which is why the ShakeMap project exists.

What is ShakeMap?

Simply put, it’s a project of the US Geological Survey – specifically, their Earthquakes Hazards Program. The project provides maps of earthquakes worldwide, practically in real time. From local to federal levels, governments utilize the maps to study earthquakes, map potential danger zones, enhance preparedness training and disaster planning, and more.

What Does It Do?

The great thing about this project is the vast amount of data it collects. On the project’s website, you can find archives of every earthquake recorded since the project’s initiation, various scenarios and how they may play out in a particular region, and an atlas of earthquakes worldwide. For example, you can click on a recent earthquake and look at an interactive map of the affected area or see historical quakes in the region. You can even report if you felt it, your current location, and how it affected you.

ShakeMap is an amazing tool that allows for faster response and better preparedness wherever seismic activity occurs.