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Seismic Intensity Estimates
Moving past a single magnitude number to site-specific seismic intensities — what the shaking was actually like where people were, which is what you need to make decisions after it stops.
For USGS-reported earthquakes of magnitude 3.5 and above inside the region outlined on the coverage map, we report observed intensities at seismic stations and ShakeMap-interpolated intensities at 2,002 named places.
Recent seismic activity
14 events in the 30 days to 2026-09-30T03:00:27.240000Z · intensity reported for 14 of them.
Circle size is magnitude; fill is the highest intensity estimated at any populated place. Grey means no intensity report yet.
- M3.8 11 km 4 km SE of Piru, CA 2026-09-30T03:00:27.240000Z Weak(II)
- M3.9 28 km 5 km WNW of Wauna, Washington 2026-09-29T21:05:56.250000Z Weak(III)
- M4.7 2 km 100 km W of Petrolia, CA 2026-09-29T11:36:37.910000Z Not felt(I)
- M3.6 12 km 6 km WSW of Hermosa Beach, CA 2026-09-27T15:40:01.580000Z Weak(III)
- M4.1 20 km W of Preston, Nevada 2026-09-27T08:54:07.495000Z Weak(II)
- M4.1 4 km 21 km W of Preston, Nevada 2026-09-27T07:01:41.497000Z Weak(II)
Showing 6 of 14. See the rest →
About Seismic Intensities
Strong ground motions are rare and outside of most people's experiences. Our goal is to develop compelling media that communicates site-specific seismic intensity as post-earthquake science content that is accurate, visual, and shareable — helping people understand intensity in terms they can see and feel. These are the formats we produce today. We are still building.
Available now
Six formats, produced automatically after a significant eventPopulation MMI List
Estimated intensity at every populated place the ShakeMap grid covers — who felt what, by name.
See the list → Event summarySeismic Station MMI List
Intensity derived directly from station recordings — measured ground motion, not interpolated.
See the list → Site reportNearest Population Site Report
One place in depth: interpolated MMI, four NGA-West2 model estimates, site Vs30, and peak ground motion.
Read the report → Video · BBP motionNearest Population Site Video
Everyday objects shaken by a physics-based seismogram computed on the SCEC Broadband Platform for the closest town.
Watch → Video · FDSN motionNearest Seismic Station Video
The same scene driven by a real recording — an FDSN waveform with instrument response removed and integrated to displacement.
Watch → Video · BBP motionGround Motion Decay Video
One earthquake at 5, 50, and 100 km side by side, showing how quickly the shaking people feel falls off with distance.
Watch →Site last deployed: October 1, 2026.