Vermont is located within a plate rather than at a plate boundary, and the cause for intraplate earthquakes is poorly understood. Perhaps quakes occur along ancient plate boundaries where faults are reactivated or serve as a surface along which tectonic stress is released. Most serious damage from earthquakes results from the collapse of buildings or bridges, damage to utility lines and resulting fires, shelves and items suspended from the ceilings falling on people, and broken glass. Due to the rural nature of Vermont, most communities are not concerned with collapse of large bridges and overpasses. Geologists are not able to predict when and where an earthquake will occur, but can give probability statistics for ground shaking based on recorded human observations during the past several hundred years.
Geologists can also model and predict the severity of quakes.
These models are used to help citizens prepare for and to allow governments and communities to plan for this type of emergency. Indoors, get under a table or desk away from doors, exterior walls and windows or anything that could fall on you. Cover your head. Outdoors, stay put and keep away from buildings and utility lines. Be prepared for after shocks.