Florida is one of the few low-risk areas for earthquakes in the coterminous United States. The Florida Platform is characterized by a unique seismological stability that has yielded very few confirmable earthquakes. Although many historical events have been reported as earthquakes in Florida, and some descriptions conclusively suggest actual earthquakes, no damaging events are known to have occurred within the state. Although earthquakes can occur at anytime, the geological and tectonic stability of the Florida Plateau suggests a very low likelihood of a major earthquake for the state.
Earthquakes are the result of stress accumulation and slippage along faults.
There is no evidence of unusual tectonic forces affecting Florida and considerable controversy about evidence interpreted as indicative of faults. Studies of the basement structure of Florida indicate that the region was faulted during the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea, some 200 million years ago. Traces of faults have been mapped on the land surface, but these are minor and there is no evidence of stress accumulation or slippage among them at present. The epicenters of most of these are located out of state. The vibration caused church bells to ring in St. Augustine.