Emergency

Preparedness
Local Community
Marcie Frazier
Geology 1000
 Fault Lines - Area

This map shows fault lines

throughout the Salt Lake County and
their proximity to the area. I’ve
indicated where my home and local
community that this emergency
preparedness plan will affect.

As you can see, this area is near

multiple fault lines and is at risk of
experiencing an earthquake. The
main fault line we will focus on is the
Wasatch Fault, which is the largest in
Utah.
Preparing for an Earthquake

An earthquake is rapid shaking of the earth caused underground rock breaking

from fault lines. This can cause buildings, furniture, trees, powerlines, etc to fall
and can cause a lot of damage and injury. Like most hazards, an earthquake can
happen at any time and it’s important to be prepared in the case that they do.
Although, they can be unexpected, you can reduce your risk of injury by planning,
preparing, and practicing

In the next few slides, you will find information and outlines of how to best
prepare for an earthquake appropriate evacuation plans for your family and our
local community.
Disaster Plan - Prepare

● Secure items, like TV’s, dressers, items on

walls, or other breakables
● Practice drop, cover, and hold on at places
you commonly at
● Make a supply kit for at least three days in
the case you are stranded or without
power.
● Contact homeowners insurance to see if
you qualify for earthquake coverage
● Create a evacuation plan and relief
locations
● Volunteer to help with the community
disaster plans and awareness.
Disaster Plan - Supplies

● Food and Water for at least 72 hours ● Tools (shovel, knife, etc)
● First Aid Kit ● Waterproof matches
● Non and Prescription drugs ● Batteries
● Flashlight/Candles ● Fire extinguisher
● Batteries ● Important Documents
● Blankets ● Clothing
● Personal hygiene items ● Satellite radio/phone
● Hats/Gloves/Coat ● Whistle
● Dust mask ● Cash
● Can Opener ● Two way radios
Survive During and After
● Drop, Cover, then Hold On like practiced
● If you’re in bed, stay there and cover head
and neck with a pillow.
● Stay inside, don’t run outside when the
shaking stops
● If in vehicle, find an area that is away from
buildings, trees, overpasses, underpasses,
or utility wires.
● If in high rise building, fire alarms and
sprinklers may go off. Do not use elevator
● Be alert of rock and landslides if near
mountains or slopes
● Expect Aftershock following the earthquake
● Check for injuries and help others that may
be injured
● Move away if you’re in a damaged building
and do not enter damaged buildings.
● If trapped, cover mouth and use things like
pipes, whistle, text message, etc to alert
others
● Save phone calls for emergencies.
● Evacuate according to local plan
● Once safe, monitor news medias
● Use caution during post clean up
 Evacuation 2
1

Below, are evacuation

locations for our community.
If damage is extensive, see #4
3
1. LDS Church
a. 3976 Dimrall Dr,
2. LDS Church
a. 5720 S 4270 W
3. LDS Church
a. 5905 South 4000 West
4. LDS Church (Alternate)
a. 6364 South 3200 West 4
Earthquakes - Deeper Look

An earthquake is when the ground shakes and this happens when two blocks of the earth slip past one
another. This area is known as a fault. is when the ground shakes when there is a slip on a fault. An
earthquake starts in the area of the earth called the hypocenter and above this area is the epicenter
which is on the surface.

There can be foreshocks prior to a big earthquake happening, but these cannot be determined until the
main or big earthquake has happened. After a mainshock earthquake, there can be aftershocks that
continue for weeks, months, or even years.

The earth has four major layers, inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The top layers include the
mantel and and crust. It’s made up of many pieces that may be thought of as a puzzle covering the
surface of Earth, but are called tectonic plates and the edges called plate boundaries. These edges are
rough so they can get stuck, but continue to move building up energy. The edges will become unstuck
and an earthquake occurs.
Earthquakes - Recorded

Earthquakes are recorded using an instrument called seismographs which creates a recording called
seismogram. The base sits on the ground and a heavy hand hangs free. When the ground shakes from
an earthquake, the base shakes, but the hanging hand does not. The string or spring that it hangs from
absorbs the movement. The difference between the shaking and the motionless part is what is
recorded.

The size of an earthquake depends on the size of the fault and how much of the fault slipped. They use
the seismograms to determine how large the earthquake was. A short wiggly line shows that the
earthquake was rather small, while the large wiggly line shows that it was large. The size of an
earthquake is called a magnitude. They also refer to the intensity of shaking.

They can also locate earthquakes using seismograms. The P & S waves shake the ground differently. Pe
waives are faster than S waves so they are able to locate where the earthquake occured. They call this
method the triangulation.
Earthquakes - Predicting

Scientists have tried many ways to try and predict earthquakes, but none have
been successful and they will likely never be able to predict them. On a fault, they
know there will be another earthquake in the future, but no way of knowing when.

There is uncertainty on whether or not weather can affect an earthquake or if

animals or people can tell when an earthquake is coming.
Earthquakes - Aftermath

● Soil can mix with groundwater causing liquefaction. This can cause buildings to sink into the
ground.
● Buildings can also be damaged and lean or tip over.
● Landslides, mudslides, avalanches can occur in mountainous areas.
● Ground displacement for anything that is built across the fault.
● Flooding from dams, rivers, reservoirs, etc.
● Tsunamis and seiches
● Fire from broken gas and power lines
● Heavy things falling causing crushing
● Ground subsidence
● Rebuilding the economy
● Lack of utilities
Earthquakes - Wasatch Fault

Over 130 years ago, geologist G.K. gilbert wrote a letter to the newspaper warning residents that there
was evidence that large earthquakes happened prior to settlement. The wasatch fault is Utah’s longest
and most active fault extending 220 miles. It’s the most studied active normal fault in the world.
Geologists have compiled data on timing and sizes of previous earthquakes. These studies have lead to
the determining the fault builds up energy for a 7 magnitude earthquake, which on average repeats
1300-1500 years, meaning Utah is due for a “big one”.

Utah has experienced sixteen earthquakes greater than 5.5 magnitude since 1847 and studies show
repeated large earthquakes of 6.5 prior to settlement.

The probability that the Wasatch Front region for a 6.75 magnitude or higher is 43%. The Oquirrh-Great
Salt Lake fault has a probability of 18% and other faults 5% probability.
Earthquakes - Wasatch Fault

Nearly 80 percent of Utah’s population lives within 15 miles of the Wasatch fault

More than 75 percent of Utah’s economy is in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber
counties above the Wasatch fault

Most Utah’s state government facilities are located within 15 miles

Major interstates and the airport is within 15 miles

Wasatch Fault- Frequency

In the last 6,000 years, large earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault on an average of
every 400 years between Brigham City and Levan. Scientist so that Utah is due
for an earthquake in the next 400 years.

700 earthquakes (including aftershocks) happen in Utah each year. Only about
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 - Wasatch Fault

The map to the right

shows the ground
shaking of a potential
7.0 magnitude
earthquake from the
Wasatch Fault. You can
see that the area we’re
focusing is in between
severe and violent
shaking.
Earthquake - Disaster

This chart shows the potential impact that a

large 6.75+ magnitude earthquake could have
on the state of Utah.

As you can see, in the event of a 6.75+

magnitude earthquake will be sudden and cause
catastrophic conditions. Many lives may be lost
and others impacted. This will impact people’s
health and home. In addition, the overall
economy will be heavily impacted and it will take
a lot to rebuild and repair after this event.
Sources
https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/circular/c-106/c-106faults.pdf
https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
https://www.kued.org/sites/default/files/kued-emergency-prep-guide-sm.p
df https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/supplies.html
https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/why.html
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/megaqk_facts_fantasy.php
https://dem.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/03/RS1058_EERI_
SLC_EQ_Scenario.pdf
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/hazards.html
https://dem.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/03/RS1058_EERI_
SLC_EQ_Scenario.pdf
https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2016/3019/fs20163019.pdf
https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/misc_pubs/mp-16-3/mp-16-3.pdf