The New Madrid Seismic Zone ( NMSZ ) lies particularly close and has produced large earthquakes , such as those in 1811 and 1812 . Because the fault zone lies in a densely populated area , a major earthquake from the zone could be catastrophic . The Geological Survey of Alabama predicts a 90 percent chance of an earthquake of 6.0 or greater in the area by 2040 . The shaking from such an earthquake would spread again into the northern segment of Alabama . The Southern Appalachian system , which extends into Alabama , poses a moderate threat to eastern and central Alabama and is responsible for most of the state 's earthquakes . The South Carolina seismic zone has produced earthquakes as powerful as 7.3 on the Richter scale , and a large earthquake originating from it could easily reach Alabama . The 1886 Charleston earthquake , for example , was felt as far as from its epicenter . Another more recently active zone in eastern Tennessee has produced small earthquakes , including one in Alabama in 1997
1886 Charleston earthquake
1886 Charleston earthquake
1916 Irondale earthquake