You probably think of Florida and immediately picture hurricanes, humidity, and maybe a stray alligator in a pool. Earthquakes? Usually not on the list. But if you felt a weird shimmy in your coffee cup recently, you aren't crazy. Florida isn't exactly a seismic hotspot, but it’s not totally "dead" either.
The Shock Near Cape Canaveral
When people ask when was the last earthquake in florida, they are usually looking for the most recent event that actually made local headlines. That happened on February 7, 2024.
Right around 10:48 p.m., a magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck about 101 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral. It wasn't a massive, "Hollywood-style" disaster. However, for a state sitting on a massive platform of carbonate rock, any tremor is a big deal. The USGS confirmed it was about 6 miles deep.
Residents in Brevard County—places like Melbourne and Palm Bay—reported feeling light shaking. It didn't knock down buildings, but it sure lit up social media. People were mostly confused. Was it a sonic boom? A rocket test? Nope. Just a rare seismic hiccup in the Atlantic.
Even More Recent Minor Hits
If we are being technical about "near" Florida, the record books have a few more entries. On March 20, 2025, a tiny magnitude 2.2 tremor was recorded about 127 miles north of Jacksonville.
Wait.
Before you panic, a 2.2 is basically the equivalent of a heavy truck driving past your house. You probably wouldn't even notice it unless you were sitting perfectly still in a very quiet room.
Why Does Florida Feel Shaking from Elsewhere?
Florida has a weird habit of "feeling" earthquakes that don't actually belong to it. Because the state is basically a giant limestone sponge, it’s remarkably good at absorbing and carrying vibrations from far away.
Take the November 10, 2024 events.
Two significant earthquakes hit near Cuba—a 5.9 and a 6.8 magnitude. While the epicenter was hundreds of miles away, people in high-rise condos in Miami and Edgewater felt their apartments swaying. There were videos of light fixtures swinging and water in glasses rippling.
It’s a strange sensation. You’re in Florida, thousands of miles from the San Andreas fault, and yet the floor is moving. This happens because the Caribbean is seismically active, and those waves travel through the ocean floor and right up the Florida peninsula.
The 2006 Gulf of Mexico Event
If we look back further at significant events, the September 10, 2006 earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico is the one most old-timers remember. This was a 5.9 magnitude quake.
- It happened about 250 miles southwest of Anna Maria.
- The shaking lasted for about 20 seconds.
- People felt it in Tampa, Orlando, and even as far as Georgia.
Honestly, it caused a bit of a freak-out. Swimming pools were "sloshing," and items fell off shelves. It was an "intraplate" earthquake, which is basically geologist-speak for "it happened in the middle of a tectonic plate where it wasn't supposed to."
A Look at Florida’s "Biggest" Quake
Florida’s seismic history is short. And mostly quiet. But the "big one" for the Sunshine State occurred way back on January 12, 1879.
It was centered near St. Augustine or Palatka. The magnitude was estimated to be around 4.4. According to old newspaper records from Cedar Key, people were nearly shaken out of their beds. Plaster cracked in walls. Dishes shattered.
Back then, folks didn't have the USGS or Twitter. They just had the terrifying realization that the ground wasn't as solid as they thought. Since then, we haven't seen anything centered on land in Florida that matches that intensity.
Is Florida Actually At Risk?
Kinda, but not really.
The USGS says there is a less than 2% chance of a damaging earthquake hitting the central Florida peninsula in the next 10,000 years. Those are pretty good odds. Florida doesn't have "active" fault zones like California or even South Carolina.
✨ Don't miss: Middlesex House of Correction: What Really Happens Behind the Walls in Billerica
But there are "passive" faults. These are old cracks in the earth's crust that are mostly dormant. Occasionally, they settle or shift under pressure from distant plate movements. That’s likely what caused the 2024 Cape Canaveral quake.
Common Misconceptions
- Sinkholes are earthquakes: Nope. Sinkholes are caused by limestone dissolving. They feel like a localized collapse, but they aren't seismic.
- Florida is floating on water: It’s a common myth. Florida is a solid platform of rock, but that rock is very porous.
- The "Big One" is coming: There is no evidence of a major fault line capable of a 7.0+ earthquake under Florida.
What to Do If You Feel Shaking
It sounds silly for Florida, but the rules are the same everywhere.
Drop, cover, and hold on.
If you're in a high-rise in Miami and feel the building sway from a Caribbean quake, stay away from the windows. Don't run for the elevators. Most modern Florida skyscrapers are actually designed to sway a bit to deal with high winds, so they can handle a little vibration.
Tracking Future Quakes
If you think you felt something, the best thing to do is check the USGS Latest Earthquakes map. They track everything down to the tiny 1.0 tremors. You can also use their "Did You Feel It?" tool to report your experience. This actually helps scientists understand how seismic waves travel through Florida's unique geology.
Keep an eye on regional activity in the Caribbean and the Gulf. That’s where Florida’s next "rumble" is most likely to come from. For now, you’re much more likely to deal with a thunderstorm than a trembling floor.
📖 Related: Channel 5 News California Bay Area: Why KPIX Still Matters
Check your home insurance policy. Most standard Florida homeowners' policies don't cover earthquake damage because it's so rare. If you're genuinely worried or live in a very old masonry home, you might want to ask your agent about a "sinkhole vs. earthquake" rider, just to be sure where you stand.