Olivia Batalla

GEO 1700

Laura Podratz

May 5, 2017

Disaster Preparedness

I was born and raised in Utah and I decided to analyze an earthquake on the Wasatch

fault because I live in that area and I also want the rest of the community to have a response plan

if an earthquake were to ever occur. Utah isnt a state that is known for natural disasters always

occurring but I want to show awareness to others that we just never know when an earthquake

can happen but its important to always be prepared.

A large earthquake fault runs the length of Utah County from, Malad City, Idaho, to

Fayette, Utah. If it were to ever hit, geologist estimate it would be at largest, a magnitude 7.5.

Now that earthquake would do serious damage, to put it in perspective a 8.0 can totally destroy

communities. As Ive mentioned before its difficult to know when an earthquake can occur, but

scientist is certain that a large earthquake will hit the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years.

According to Ivan Wong, The hazard and thus the risk on the Wasatch Front is higher than

anyone in the working group has anticipated. Wong also told members of the Utah Seismic

Safety Commission The attitude that the big one will not occur in ones lifetime and that the

threat can be ignored must change. If it hits in the worst time which is the winter, government

computer models and estimate of 3,000 deaths. Injure another 42,000 and damage more than a

third of all buildings. It can cause at least $35 billion economic loss; roughly 60,000 people

would need public shelter during the winter.

 When the pressure builds along a fault it is slowly stretching a rubber band until it breaks,

so the Wasatch Fault isnt going based off time it depends how much pressure has been built on

the fault. To be more specific the quake would be centered in mid-Salt Lake Valley, and would

be felt in Brigham City, north to Santaquin in the south and from Tooele in the west to Coalville

in the east. It would affect about 80 percent of Utahs population, everyone that lives in Utah

should be well aware of this. This would be a disaster because scientist are well aware that it will

happen, we just dont know when, its not an unknown natural disaster.

There are several things you can do to mitigate the earthquake, and being prepared is one

of them. Having a storage with can food, first aid kit, gallons of water and clothing is important.

Utah has all four seasons, being consistent with your storage and making sure you have the right

equipment and clothing for the season we are in. Discussing with the family and knowing what

to do during an earthquake is always beneficial, having a spot to meet at in case someone gets

lost. Financially its always safe to get insurance on your house, so you can fix the damages that

may be done to your home. When purchasing a home, you want to ask your real estate what are

the risks of natural disasters happening around that area.

Utah Division of Homeland Security is well aware of the Wasatch fault, the real question

is what Utah government is doing to let the communities know the risks of the fault and how we

can mitigate this, it makes it better when we know what to do in the time of need. Ive attached a

map showing where the Wasatch is located and the length of it.
Reference

USGS. How Big and How Frequent Are Earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault.

Retrieved from https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/wasatch/

The Salt Lake Tribute (2016). New earthquake study says Utah is ripe for devastation.

Retrieved from http://www.sltrib.com/home/3791904-155/new-earthquake-study-says-

utah-is

Deseret News Utah (2010). 7.0 earthquake: If the big one hits Utahs Wasatch front.

Retrieved from http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705359039/70-earthquake-If-the-

big-one-hits-Utahs-Wasatch-front.html