Lafayette, LA – A rare earthquake struck near the Texas-Louisiana border on Thursday, December 19, 2024, rattling residents in Shreveport and neighboring areas. The 3.3 magnitude quake, which occurred just across the state line in Texas near Caddo Lake, was strong enough to disrupt daily life for a brief moment. The tremors sent Christmas trees swaying, startled pets into barking frantically, and caused paintings to fall from walls as the ground shook.
The earthquake struck around 6:30 a.m., catching many Shreveport residents off guard. Reports flooded in from locals who felt the shaking, with more than 100 people submitting accounts of the tremor. Despite the noticeable disturbance, no major damage was reported, and the quake was described as relatively weak.
Less than six hours later, a second, weaker earthquake occurred around noon, though it was not as intense as the first. Both earthquakes occurred at the same depth, but the magnitude of the first tremor was stronger. Interestingly, workers at a local news station also reported feeling the shake, underscoring the widespread impact of the event.
While the tremors were significant enough to be felt in the region, earthquakes are still a rare occurrence in Louisiana. In fact, the state has recorded only 21 earthquakes inland in total, most of which have occurred near the Arkansas border. The December 19 quake raised questions about the causes of seismic activity in the area, especially in a region that is not typically associated with major earthquakes.
Experts point to the presence of small fault lines beneath Shreveport as a potential reason for the occasional tremors. These fault lines, which are weaknesses in the Earth’s crust, can sometimes trigger small earthquakes, though they are not known to cause large-scale damage. The New Madrid Fault Zone, which is located to the north, is often mentioned as a potential source of seismic activity, but its distance from Louisiana makes it unlikely to be directly responsible for quakes in the state.
Stronger earthquakes have occurred in Louisiana in the past, particularly near Grand Isle, where salt dome collapses have triggered quakes as powerful as magnitude 5.3. However, these are relatively rare and typically do not pose significant risks to human life or property.
While the December 19 earthquake was a startling reminder that seismic activity can occur in unexpected places, experts stress that such events are generally not a major threat in Louisiana. The state’s earthquake history suggests that, while rare, tremors tend to cause only minor property damage and do not pose a serious threat to residents.