You're driving up Highway 97, maybe headed toward Crater Lake, and you see those massive, jagged rock faces looming over the road. Most folks just think they're pretty. But if you were driving there on the night of September 20, 1993, those rocks weren't just scenery—they were lethal projectiles.
Honestly, when people talk about Oregon and "the big one," they usually point their fingers at the coast. They're worried about the Cascadia Subduction Zone. But the reality of an earthquake Klamath Falls Oregon style is a different beast entirely. It’s not about a massive offshore plate; it's about the ground right under your feet literally pulling apart.
Klamath Falls sits in what geologists call the Basin and Range province. Basically, the earth's crust is stretching here. This creates "normal faults," which sounds boring until you realize these faults run right through town.
The Night the Basin Broke
It started on a Monday. 8:16 p.m. was the first warning—a small 3.9 magnitude foreshock. Most people probably thought it was a heavy truck passing by. Then, at 8:28 p.m., a 5.9 magnitude quake hit.
But the earth wasn't done. Not even close.
At 10:45 p.m., a 6.0 magnitude shock tore through the region. This was a "doublet" earthquake. Two main shocks, almost equal in power, hitting the same spot hours apart. It’s a nightmare scenario for emergency responders because you've already got weakened buildings from the first round, and then the second one finishes the job.
You've got to understand the damage wasn't just "shaking." It was structural failure. The Klamath County Courthouse, a grand old building, took a massive hit. Brick parapets—those decorative walls at the top of old buildings—just crumbled and fell onto the sidewalks. If it had been 2:00 p.m. instead of 10:00 p.m., the casualty count would have been way worse.
Sadly, two people did lose their lives that night. One man, Kenneth Campbell, was driving his truck on Highway 97 near Modoc Point when a boulder the size of a small car came crashing down the hillside, triggered by the shaking. He didn't stand a chance. The other victim was an elderly woman who suffered a heart attack brought on by the sheer terror of the event.
Why the Geology Here is Weird
Klamath Falls is unique. It’s not like Portland or Seattle. You’re dealing with the West Klamath Lake fault zone. Geologists like David Sherrod from the USGS have pointed out that this zone is capable of hitting a magnitude 7.3.
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Think about that.
The 1993 event was a 6.0 and it caused $10 million in damage (which is a lot more in today's money). A 7.3 is roughly 20 times more powerful. The reason the 1993 quakes felt so violent is that they were shallow. We're talking only about 5.6 miles deep. When a quake is that shallow, the energy doesn't have much time to dissipate before it hits the surface. It’s a sharp, jarring punch rather than a rolling wave.
Kinda scary, right?
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The town is also built on a lot of "unconsolidated" sediment—basically loose soil and old lakebed deposits. When the ground shakes, this stuff acts like jelly. It's called liquefaction, and it's why some buildings in the downtown core were absolutely wrecked while others just a few blocks away on solid basalt rock were totally fine.
Is it Going to Happen Again?
Short answer: Yes.
Since 2025, we've seen dozens of small quakes around the area. Most are tiny, like the 1.1 magnitude blip west of town in January 2025 or the 2.6 magnitude shake near Yreka later that year. They’re reminders. The earth is still stretching.
A lot of people think that because we had the "big" one in '93, we're safe for another hundred years. That's a huge misconception. Seismic cycles aren't like bus schedules. Just because a fault released energy doesn't mean it’s "empty." In fact, the 1993 sequence lasted for months. There were over 300 recorded aftershocks.
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What You Should Actually Do
If you live in or are visiting the Basin, don't just wait for the next siren.
- Check your foundation: If you own an older home in Klamath Falls, especially one built before the 1990s, check if it's actually bolted to the foundation. Many of the homes that suffered "minor" damage in '93 did so because they literally slid off their bases.
- Secure the "Falling Killers": In the 1993 earthquake, it wasn't the floors collapsing that hurt people—it was the stuff on the walls. Bookshelves, water heaters, and heavy mirrors. Strap them down.
- The 2-Week Rule: Oregon's Office of Emergency Management pushes "2 Weeks Ready." In a major quake, the roads—especially Highway 97 and Highway 140—will likely be blocked by landslides. You might be on your own for a while.
- Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Don't run outside. That's how you get hit by falling bricks or glass. Get under a sturdy table and stay there.
The 1993 earthquake Klamath Falls Oregon event changed the state's building codes for a reason. It was a wake-up call that the "quiet" side of the Cascades isn't so quiet after all. Stay aware of the local geology, especially if you're near those steep ridges or older masonry buildings downtown.
Next Steps for Safety:
Identify the "weak spots" in your home today. Walk through each room and look for heavy furniture that isn't anchored. Buy a few "L" brackets at the hardware store this weekend and secure those tall bookshelves to the wall studs. It’s a two-hour job that could save your life when the Basin decides to stretch again.