<p>Yes, prior to 1983, central Idaho was classified low to moderate.  On October 28, 1983,  a  powerful earthquake occurred in Lost River Range at Borah Peak in central Idaho. The shock measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).</p>

<p>The earthquake was centered only 50 miles from a Idaho National Engineering Lab (nuclear research laboratory), but no damage was reported a the site. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I can't find an internet accessible report but I remember discussing this earthquake at length in a Engineering Geology class I was taking in 1986.  The magnitude of the Borah Peak surprised the US government prompted the USGS to reclassify earthquake hazard zones in Idaho and Utah.</p>

<p>Location of Borah Peak, Idaho.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VTIfg.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VTIfg.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Current quake hazard map (from <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/byregion/idaho-haz.php" rel="noreferrer">USGS</a>:) 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VTIfg.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/evE8V.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>References:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Borah_Peak_earthquake" rel="noreferrer">Wikipedia Borah Peak.</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/29/us/two-children-die-as-quake-hits-northwest-and-canada.html" rel="noreferrer">New York Times article on quake</a></li>
<li><a href="http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/geo/quakes/borahEQ/boraheq.htm" rel="noreferrer">Geological summary of the quake: Idaho State University By, Steven W. Moore, Geologist and R. David Hovland, Geologist:</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T13:38:09.060Z
2017-03-11T13:38:09.060Z
Earth Science Expatriate
<p>Yes, for example, earthquakes have increased dramatically in Oklahoma since 2009 due to the effects of hydraulic fracking; this has sometimes been nicknamed the Oklahoma Earthquake Swarm.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Link for Oklahoma Area Seismicity from 1973-2016: <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/byregion/oklahoma/OKquakes1973_062642016v3.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/byregion/oklahoma/OKquakes1973_062642016v3.pdf</a></p></li>
<li><p>Link for USGS Hazard Estimation for induced earthquakes: <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/hazards.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/hazards.php</a></p></li>
</ul>

<p>The first link provides a good view for how the history of earthquakes in Oklahoma. The second provides data of past and predicted hazards of induced earthquakes (earthquakes caused by human activity rather than natural plate movement) in the US.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T21:05:24.560Z
2017-03-11T21:05:24.560Z
Kristina L
<p>Is there any case that changed from earthquake safe zone to danger zone? As plates move, I think that earthquakes belt will change over time. But is there really a case in which the earthquake-safe zone was replaced by an earthquake-prone region for such a shift or for any other reason?
 Or is there a region that is predicted to be an earthquake hazard zone in the future?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T09:26:30.087Z
Perhaps we should say: in recent times.  Because with all the hypothesized plate movement over history, everywhere was probably in an earthquake zone at some point!
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T13:38:28.460Z
Consider something like the New Madrid fault which is likely a nascent plate boundary. This paper may also help http://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/3200
John
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T13:43:48.180Z
Since much has been made of the increases in Oklahoma earthquakes, I wonder what their historic rating was.
JeopardyTempest
<geology><geophysics><earthquakes>
Is there any case that changed from earthquake safe zone to danger zone?
Kim Seong Hyeon
# Is there any case that changed from earthquake safe zone to danger zone?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-11)

Is there any case that changed from earthquake safe zone to danger zone? As plates move, I think that earthquakes belt will change over time. But is there really a case in which the earthquake-safe zone was replaced by an earthquake-prone region for such a shift or for any other reason?
Or is there a region that is predicted to be an earthquake hazard zone in the future?

**Tags:** geology, geophysics, earthquakes

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Perhaps we should say: in recent times.  Because with all the hypothesized plate movement over history, everywhere was probably in an earthquake zone at some point!  
> **username_2**: Consider something like the New Madrid fault which is likely a nascent plate boundary. This paper may also help http://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/3200  
> **username_1**: Since much has been made of the increases in Oklahoma earthquakes, I wonder what their historic rating was.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-03-11. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Yes, prior to 1983, central Idaho was classified low to moderate. On October 28, 1983, a powerful earthquake occurred in Lost River Range at Borah Peak in central Idaho. The shock measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).

The earthquake was centered only 50 miles from a Idaho National Engineering Lab (nuclear research laboratory), but no damage was reported a the site.

Unfortunately, I can't find an internet accessible report but I remember discussing this earthquake at length in a Engineering Geology class I was taking in 1986. The magnitude of the Borah Peak surprised the US government prompted the USGS to reclassify earthquake hazard zones in Idaho and Utah.

Location of Borah Peak, Idaho.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/VTIfg.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/VTIfg.jpg)

Current quake hazard map (from [USGS](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/byregion/idaho-haz.php):)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/evE8V.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/VTIfg.jpg)

References:

* [Wikipedia Borah Peak.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Borah_Peak_earthquake)
* [New York Times article on quake](http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/29/us/two-children-die-as-quake-hits-northwest-and-canada.html)
* [Geological summary of the quake: Idaho State University By, Steven W. Moore, Geologist and R. David Hovland, Geologist:](http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/geo/quakes/borahEQ/boraheq.htm)


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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-03-11. Score: 1

Yes, for example, earthquakes have increased dramatically in Oklahoma since 2009 due to the effects of hydraulic fracking; this has sometimes been nicknamed the Oklahoma Earthquake Swarm.

* Link for Oklahoma Area Seismicity from 1973-2016: <https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/byregion/oklahoma/OKquakes1973_062642016v3.pdf>
* Link for USGS Hazard Estimation for induced earthquakes: <https://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/hazards.php>

The first link provides a good view for how the history of earthquakes in Oklahoma. The second provides data of past and predicted hazards of induced earthquakes (earthquakes caused by human activity rather than natural plate movement) in the US.


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