Earthquake Fault Exists Here: Phun Philly Phact

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — There's a whole lot of shakin' going on in the great state of New Jersey as of late.

The Garden State has been rocked by numerous earthquakes over the past year. But in eastern Pennsylvania, the earth remains under our feet without a single tremor.

But could an earthquake occur in the Philadelphia region? Well, yes — to a fault.

There is a fault line that crosses New Jersey and extends into Pennsylvania, specifically in Lower Makefield Township, then Police Chief Kenneth Coluzzi told Patch.

Bucks County certainly has experienced aftershocks from nearby New Jersey earthquakes, especially one last summer that was felt in the Yardley area.

The Ramapo Fault is 185 miles long and runs from New York to Pennsylvania.

While the Ramapo Fault is the most prominent fault in the area, other faults exist, and the region is susceptible to earthquakes due to the reactivation of ancient faults, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There are no major fault lines that would cause devastating earthquakes, according to the University of Pennsylvania Almanac.

Lower Makefield Township adheres to the FEMA training plan geared toward preparedness, response, and training, Coluzzi said.

He said, as in most emergency management situations, mass notification is the key. Coluzzi said that there is no data indicating the area is threatened.

The frequency of earthquakes in the area is relatively low, with small earthquakes felt every two to three years, according to AOL.com.