A magnitude 6.1 earthquake off the coast of Cuba sent light shaking across much of Florida on the afternoon of Monday, June 8, 2026. Earthquakes are rare here, but when shaking is felt, it is worth taking a few minutes to look for new or worsening cracks and other visible signs of movement.
What Happened
From Southwest Florida up through Central Florida and the Gulf Coast, residents reported a brief rumble, swaying buildings, and hanging fixtures that moved on their own. There was no tsunami threat, and no widespread damage was reported, but the shaking was real, and many property owners are now wondering whether they should check anything.
Reports of felt shaking came in from communities across the state, including Naples, Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, and Daytona Beach.
The short version: Florida earthquakes are rare, and shaking felt this far from the epicenter is usually light. Most homes and buildings will be completely fine. But because the movement was unusual, it is a good time to walk your property, look for new or worsening cracks, and document anything that looks different than it did before today.
What to Check After the Shaking
If you felt the earthquake, take a few minutes to look over your property. These are the most common places earthquake structural damage shows up, and the signs worth documenting.
- Walls & ceilings: Look for new or worsening cracks in drywall and plaster, especially above doorways and windows or where walls meet ceilings.
- Stucco & exterior finishes: Walk the outside and check for stucco cracks, separation, or chipping at corners, window frames, and where finishes meet the structure.
- Slabs & foundations: Inspect garage floors, patios, and visible foundation areas for slab cracks or new movement.
- Doors & windows: Test ones that closed fine before. Sticking, dragging, or sudden gaps can signal movement in the surrounding structure.
- Load-bearing areas: Check beams, support columns, and load-bearing walls for new cracking or separation.
- Document everything: Take dated photos with something for scale, and note the location and the date of the shaking.
Why a Quick Check Is Worth It, Even When Damage Is Unlikely
Florida sits far from active fault lines, so earthquakes are uncommon and rarely strong by the time the shaking reaches the peninsula. The movement felt today was light for most of the state. That is genuinely reassuring, and it is also exactly why a calm, deliberate walk-through is useful. Because shaking here is so rare, most property owners have no recent baseline for what is “new” versus what has been there for years.
The goal is not to assume the worst. It is to notice change. A hairline crack that has been in the same spot for a decade is very different from one that appeared this afternoon, and the only way to tell them apart is to look now, while the event is fresh.
New or Worsening Cracks Are the Signal to Watch
When evaluating cracks after an earthquake, three things matter more than the crack itself:
- Is it new? A crack you have never seen before deserves attention, especially in walls, ceilings, or stucco.
- Is it widening? Mark the ends of a crack lightly with a pencil and write the date. If it grows over the coming days or weeks, that is meaningful.
- Where is it? Cracks near load-bearing walls, support columns, foundations, and structural connections carry more weight than cosmetic cracks in a finish.
The same logic applies to cracks in walls that suddenly appear near door and window frames, doors that begin to stick, floors that feel uneven, or stucco that has separated from the structure. None of these guarantees a problem, but together they are the picture worth documenting and, if you are unsure, evaluating.
When Visible Damage Should Be Evaluated Further
Consider a structural inspection after the earthquake if you notice cracks that are clearly new and growing, multiple signs appearing together, separation around structural connections, or any change that affects how doors, windows, or floors function. Older buildings, properties with prior settlement issues, and structures already carrying visible cracks are the ones where a professional set of eyes adds the most certainty.
How Everest BCG Helps After Reported Shaking
For earthquake-related concerns, Everest BCG provides structural damage assessments focused on identifying and documenting visible signs of movement, cracking, or damage after reported shaking. The work is observation-based and documentation-driven, built to give property owners clarity rather than guesswork.
An earthquake damage assessment in Florida from our team may include reviewing:
- New or worsening cracks in walls and ceilings
- Stucco cracks and exterior finish separation
- Slab and foundation cracking or movement
- Conditions around load-bearing areas, beams, and columns
- Doors and windows that stick or no longer close properly
- Other visible signs of movement across building components
The goal is to help you understand whether visible damage should be further evaluated, documented, monitored, or addressed through the appropriate next steps. We provide independent assessment and clear documentation, not repairs, so our findings stay neutral and useful to you, your insurer, and any professionals brought in later.
How an Assessment Works
- Tell us what you saw. Call (844) 322-2946 or send photos of any cracks, sticking doors, or changes you noticed after the shaking. We help you understand whether an on-site assessment makes sense.
- On-site evaluation. We review walls, ceilings, stucco, slabs, foundations, load-bearing areas, doors, and windows for visible signs of movement, documenting conditions with labeled, dated photos and written observations.
- Clear documentation & next steps. You receive a documented assessment of what was observed and a plain-English explanation of whether conditions should be monitored, further evaluated, or addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
I felt the earthquake in Florida. Should I be worried about my home or building?
Most Florida properties that felt distant shaking will not show structural damage, because the movement was relatively light at that distance. The responsible step is to look for new or worsening cracks, sticking doors or windows, and other visible signs of movement, document anything you find, and have it evaluated if you are unsure whether it is new or significant.
What signs of earthquake structural damage should I look for?
Look for new or worsening cracks in walls and ceilings, cracks in stucco and exterior finishes, slab and foundation cracks, doors or windows that suddenly stick or no longer close properly, separation around door and window frames, and any changes near load-bearing areas. Compare what you see now to what you remember before the shaking.
Are cracks in walls after an earthquake always serious?
Not always. Many homes have pre-existing hairline cracks from settling and normal aging that are cosmetic. What matters is whether a crack is new, whether it is widening, and where it is located. Cracks that are growing, that appear near structural connections, or that come with sticking doors or uneven floors are the ones worth evaluating through a structural inspection after the earthquake.
How should I document possible earthquake damage?
Take clear, dated photos of any cracks or changes, include a reference object or tape measure for scale, note the date the shaking occurred, and record the location within the property. If you can, mark the ends of a crack with a pencil and a date so you can tell later whether it is still moving.
What does an earthquake damage assessment in Florida include?
Everest BCG provides structural damage assessments focused on identifying and documenting visible signs of movement, cracking, or damage after reported shaking. This may include reviewing new or worsening cracks in walls, ceilings, stucco, slabs, foundations, exterior finishes, load-bearing areas, doors, and windows. The goal is to help property owners understand whether visible damage should be further evaluated, documented, monitored, or addressed.
Does Everest BCG perform repairs?
No. Everest provides independent assessment and documentation. Our role is to evaluate what is visible, document conditions clearly, and outline the appropriate next steps. Keeping assessment separate from repair keeps our findings neutral and our documentation useful for owners, insurers, and any professionals brought in later.
Noticed something new after the shaking? Call Everest BCG at (844) 322-2946 to document it and understand the right next step.
