On Saturday morning, a 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Greenback, Tennessee, at approximately 9 a.m. EDT. The earthquake was felt widely, with reports of tremors reaching as far as Atlanta, Georgia, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) away. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage, as confirmed by local authorities.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquake originated about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Greenback, which is located approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Knoxville. In the first hour following the quake, the USGS received more than 23,000 reports from the public regarding their experiences during the tremors. Meteorologists from television news stations in both Georgia and North Carolina also reported feeling the earthquake.
In terms of aftershocks, the USGS has estimated a 5% chance of experiencing a magnitude 4 or greater aftershock within the week following the initial quake. Gabriela Reilly, a resident in Braselton, Georgia, described the moment as she and her husband were making waffles. She recounted, "Our ceiling fan started shaking for about 10 seconds. I thought a giant aircraft had flown low right over the neighborhood, but my husband said, 'No, that was definitely an earthquake!'"
Jason Pack, a resident outside Knoxville, also described his experience during the quake. He was still in bed when he felt the walls shaking, along with a rumbling loud enough to wake his family and alarm their dog. He remarked that, "In east Tennessee, you’re used to tornadoes and floods, that kind of thing. It’s unusual to have an earthquake." He noted that while he has felt tremors before, this one was likely the strongest he had experienced in Tennessee.
Pack emphasized the importance of preparedness for such events, stating, "Even though this one was small, it’s a good reminder — if it had been a big quake, would you know what to do? Drop, cover, and hold on if you’re inside. Stay clear of buildings if you’re outside." According to USGS guidelines, damage from earthquakes typically occurs when they reach a magnitude of above 4 or 5, but actual outcomes depend on various factors such as building construction, soil type, and distance from the epicenter.
The southeastern United States is known to carry a significant earthquake risk, primarily due to the presence of the New Madrid Seismic Zone to the west and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone, which was the site of Saturday’s earthquake. USGS representative Ayesha Davis mentioned that since 1950, there have been 15 other earthquakes of magnitude 4 or larger within a 155-mile (250-kilometer) radius of this event, with the largest recorded being a 4.7 magnitude quake near Knoxville in November 1973.
More recently, two earthquakes were recorded in the same seismic zone in December 2018. One was a magnitude 4.4 earthquake centered in Decatur, Tennessee, which also shook homes as far away as Atlanta. Another tremor occurred a few days later, measuring a magnitude of 3.0 with its epicenter located about two miles (four kilometers) southeast of Mascot, near Knoxville, and it too was felt in parts of Georgia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
Davis further explained that seismic waves from earthquakes travel more efficiently in the Eastern United States compared to the West due to the region's geology. "Earthquakes in the East are felt over a much larger distance and by more people," she stated, underscoring the unique seismic characteristics of the area.
