Cuba Earthquake Shakes Florida, But Iowa Remains Safest State

On June 8, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northwest of Cuba, sending tremors hundreds of miles away into central and western Florida. Residents in Ocala and Marion County felt their couches vibrate and their walls shake for up to ten seconds. But while Floridians were left wondering what hit them, Iowans can rest easy. Our state remains one of the most geologically stable places in the entire country.

Florida Residents Rattled By Distant Quake

Jaime Farrington was sitting on her couch in northeast Ocala when the shaking started. She told the Ocala Star-Banner she thought she had been staring at her computer screen too long.

Are my eyes shaking?

Farrington said she felt a vibration lasting eight to ten seconds. Her couch was against a wall, and she felt the shaking there as well. It did cross her mind that it could be an earthquake, she said, because she had read earlier that day about a devastating quake in the Philippines.

Jennifer Diel, also in northeast Ocala, had a similar experience. At first, she thought she had accidentally hit the massage button on her chair. Then she heard items falling in her garage. Her daughter in southeast Ocala called to say she felt it too.

Well, that's odd.

Soon, Floridians across the state realized they had experienced seismic waves from the Cuba earthquake.

USGS Data Confirms Strong Quake Near Cuba

The U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated the earthquake at magnitude 6.4 before revising it down to 6.1. Even at the lower number, a 6.1 quake is classified as strong and capable of causing significant damage near its epicenter.

Earthquakes are relatively common along fault systems near Cuba. However, it is far less common for the shaking to be felt hundreds of miles away in Florida. Residents across the state quickly took to social media to ask if they had just experienced an earthquake.

The Cuba event followed a series of earthquakes in the Philippines the same day, including a magnitude 7.8 quake that killed at least 35 people, triggered building collapses, and generated a small tsunami.

Iowa's Earthquake Risk Is Virtually Zero

Here is the good news for Iowans. Our state ties North Dakota as the state with the fewest earthquakes per year. Between 1975 and 1995, Iowa was one of only four states that recorded zero earthquakes at all. The others were Florida, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.

Florida is not located near any tectonic plate boundaries, yet it still felt the Cuba quake. Iowa, by contrast, sits far from the closest major fault lines. The nearest significant fault system runs through the Caribbean Sea, north of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and south of Cuba toward Guatemala.

According to the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model, most of Iowa has a less than 5% chance of experiencing a damaging earthquake in the next 100 years. That puts our state firmly at the low end of the threat spectrum.

Why Iowa's Stability Matters

Iowa's geological stability is more than just a fun fact. It carries real economic and practical advantages.

• Lower infrastructure costs: Building codes in earthquake zones require expensive reinforcements. Iowa businesses and homeowners save money because we do not need those added protections.
• Energy security: Iowa's energy infrastructure, including pipelines and power plants, faces far less risk from seismic activity than facilities in states along fault lines.
• Agricultural protection: Our farmland and grain storage facilities are not vulnerable to the ground shifting that can devastate agricultural operations in more active zones.
• Insurance savings: Homeowners in states like California and Alaska pay steep earthquake insurance premiums. Most Iowans never have to think about it.

What About Tsunami Risk?

It is possible, though unlikely, that an earthquake in the Atlantic basin could generate a tsunami reaching Florida. Scientists say underwater landslides or Caribbean seismic events could produce waves capable of reaching Florida's shoreline under the right conditions.

For the June 8 earthquake near Cuba, no tsunami warning, watch, or advisory was issued. Florida residents felt seismic waves from the quake itself.

For Iowa, tsunami risk is nonexistent. Being hundreds of miles from any ocean makes that particular natural disaster one threat Iowans will never face.

Earthquakes Are Not Increasing

It might seem like earthquakes are happening more often, especially with real-time alerts and constant media coverage. But the U.S. Geological Survey says the overall rate of earthquakes has remained relatively stable over time.

Any year may appear more active simply because improved technology allows scientists to detect more small quakes than they could in the past. Long-term global records dating back to 1900 show the Earth averages about 16 major earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater each year. In 2024, there were 10 such earthquakes, the strongest being a 7.5 in Japan.

However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency notes that the risk of being affected by an earthquake is growing. That is not because there are more quakes, but because more people and assets are being built in high hazard areas.

Iowa's steady growth, combined with our low seismic risk, makes our state an increasingly attractive place to live, work, and invest.

The Bottom Line For Iowans

While Floridians were checking their furniture and calling their neighbors to figure out why the ground moved, Iowans went about their day without a second thought. Our state's location, far from tectonic plate boundaries and major fault lines, gives us a natural advantage that many Americans would envy.

You do not need to reinforce your foundation or buy earthquake insurance. You do not need to worry about tsunamis. Iowa's solid ground is one of the many reasons this state remains a great place to raise a family, grow a business, and build a future.