Earthquake

Hazards in
Utah
-Samantha Anderson
What’re Earthquakes? A brief explanation..
• An earthquake is a vibration of
the earth produced by the rapid
release of energy.
• The shaking or trembling
caused by the sudden release of
energy
• Usually associated with faulting
or breaking of rocks
 What’re Earthquakes? Part II.
• P-waves:
• Propagate parallel to the direction in which
the wave is moving
• Move through solids, liquids
• S-waves:
• Propagate the movement perpendicular
to the direction in which the wave is
moving
Surface waves (L-waves or long waves).
• Complex motion
• Up-and-down and side-to-side
• Slowest
• Most damage to structures, buildings
More important information:
• The size of an earthquake depends on the size
of the fault and the amount of slip on the fault.
• Earthquakes are recorded by instruments
called seismographs.
• Seismograms come in handy for locating
earthquakes too, and being able to see the P
wave and the S wave is important.
• Scientists can’t currently predict earthquakes.
• Depending on the size of the mainshock,
aftershocks can continue for weeks, months,
and even years after the mainshock!
 Potential Hazards of Earthquakes

• Potential to completely destroy cities, homes, and surrounding areas

• Harmful to citizens if citizen is not prepared

• Ground Shaking

• Landslides and Rockfalls

• Cost time and money to recover from such event

Frequency of Earthquakes
 The Wasatch Fault
What is it?
-”The Wasatch Fault is an active fault
located primarily on the western edge of
the Wasatch Mountains in the U.S. state
of Utah.” –Wikipedia.com
Why is it Important to Utah citizens?
-The Wasatch fault is believed to have
the ability to produce significant damage
to Utah homes, buildings, and other
facilities. It is a direct threat to its
citizens if quake is to occur.
Where is the
Wasatch Fault
Located?
• “Extending from Malad City,
Idaho, to Fayette, Utah, most
of the Wasatch fault traces
along the western base of the
Wasatch Range” –Geology.Utah.gov
• Approximately 240 miles
long, stretching from
Southern Idaho traveling to
Central Utah.
• Quake can occur at anytime.
What can we do to better Prepare?
If an earthquake decides to hit Utah, everyone in the state will be
effected in one way or another. As discussed, the Wasatch fault could
occur at anytime. To prevent ultimate disaster or fatal occurrences, it is
necessary that we become better prepared as a community.
• Become informed. Find out what you can do in your local Utah
community to see what you can do to better be prepared in case
disaster hits.
• Become an advocate for earthquake safety

• Create survival kits with the necessities. (Water, First Aid Kit, Food,
Clothing, etc.)
 7 Steps for Earthquake Safety/Recovery
• Identify potential hazards in your home and begin to fix them.

• Create a disaster-preparedness plan.

• Prepare disaster supply kits.

• Identify your building’s potential weaknesses and begin to fix them.

• Protect yourself during earthquake shaking–DROP, COVER AND HOLD

ON.
• After the earthquake, check for injuries and damage.

• When safe, continue to follow your disaster-preparedness plan.

What’s currently being done to Prepare?
• “Be Ready Utah is the state’s official
Be Ready Utah!! emergency preparedness campaign
managed by the Utah Department of
Public Safety’s Division of Emergency
Management (DEM). Personal and
family preparedness is the key to
survival in, and subsequent recovery
from, emergencies and disasters.”
• For more information, be sure to
check out their website!
• https://www.utah.gov/beready/inde
x.html
References
• https://www.utah.gov/beready/documents/roots_earthquake_low.pdf

• https://www.utah.gov/beready/index.html

• https://www.google.com/

• https://images.google.com/

• http://files.geology.utah.gov/online/pdf/pi-40.pdf

• https://www.opengeography.org/ch-3-earthquakes.html