What
are the chances of actual prepper or SHTF situations such as zombies,
earthquakes, floods, fires, end of days scenarios, nuclear strike, EMP’s? You
name it there’s a theoretical scenario for it. I don’t subscribe to all the
theories out there, but the budding prepper in me tells me to get as ready as
possible for what could actually happen first, then go to the theories. I live
in Utah, along the Wasatch fault. So in my prepper ways I have begun studying
the realities.
Today’s blog post is all about the earthquake scenario in Salt Lake City. As a resource, I’ll be citing the University of Utah SEIS site.
Do
we need to worry only about large earthquakes causing damage?No. A moderate-sized earthquake that occurs under an urbanized area can cause major damage.
Magnitude 5.5 - 6.5 earthquakes occur somewhere in Utah on
the average of once every 7 years.
Estimates of damage from a "direct hit" to one of
the Wasatch Front's major metropolitan areas reach $2.3 billion for a magnitude
6.5 earthquake, and more than $830 million for a magnitude 5.5 earthquake.
Since 1850, at least 15 independent earthquakes of magnitude
5.5 and larger have occurred in the Utah region.
Recent magnitude 5.0 and larger earthquakes in the Utah
region include:
Local Date Magnitude Location
Jan. 29, 1989 5.4 16
miles SE of Salina
Aug. 14, 1988 5.3 Central
Emery County
Mar. 27, 1975 6.0 Pocatello
Valley (North border)
Oct. 14, 1967 5.2 Marysvale
Aug. 16, 1966 5.6 Utah-Nevada
Border
Sep. 5, 1962
5.2 Salt Lake Valley
Aug. 30, 1962 5.7 Cache
Valley
Based
on this information, we seem to be due an earthquake in Utah. It’s been 25 years since the last big one. So in all
likelihood, it could be on its way. Do I think it will happen soon? I honestly
don’t know, but I’m doing what I can to get ready. In all likelihood it will
happen while we are all sleeping, but if it happens while I’m out and about, I
have to get home to my family. Prepper’s believe that there are bug-out
situations and bug-in situations. Depending on the severity of an earthquake, bugging-in
is likely the right approach to this. Before
I continue on strategies and prep, here are some interesting things I found on
Utah Earthquakes:
How
often do earthquakes occur in Utah? About 700 earthquakes (including aftershocks) are located in the Utah region each year. Approximately 2% of the earthquakes are felt. An average of about 13 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or larger occur in the region every year. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the state of Utah.
How
many earthquakes occur in the Wasatch Front region? About 500 earthquakes are located in the Wasatch Front region each year. About 60% of the earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 and larger in Utah occur in the Wasatch Front region.
When
was the last earthquake? Worldwide: In the last minute, somewhere in the world.
Utah: Within the past 24 hours, somewhere in the state.
(The last large earthquake in Utah occurred on the Wasatch fault north of Nephi about 400 years ago.)
The fault we have here in
Utah is a vertical type of fault, it’s more of the standard fault, but when
compared to say, San Andreas, it’s going to move up and down, rather than
horizontally like those poor guys in California. My years in the O.C. taught me
to just hang on and enjoy the ride. Now that I’m here in Utah and may some day
get a 6.0 or higher earthquake, I need to get my family ready. The reality is
that gas and electric grids will be down. Local services will be deployed to
clean up, security, rescue and getting the grid back as quick as possible. In
Utah, the local cities have set up a S.A.F.E network that stands for Schools
Aid Families in Emergencies. We are told to get our emergency kits and head to
the schools. I urge my readers to get familiar with their local area earthquake
plans. Check out Utah’s plan at http://www.slcgov.com/em
The number one recommendation
is to have 72 hour kits on hand for everyone in your family. We have standard kits for our family, but I’m
making them a little more robust in the coming weeks. That way we can bug-in if
need be. I also recommend that with your 72 hour kits, get a portable toilet and/or
extra gallons of water for your toilet in case it still flushes. SLC offers this additional list for emergency
and safety prep http://www.slcdocs.com/em/96HourKit.pdf.
Well, until next time, keep
planning for the worst and hoping for the best.
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