Earthquake Guide

Bob Carey, the Earthquake program manager for the state of Utah, told us about the new handbook.


The table of contents is broken down into four areas. The first is Why Should I care? The answer to this question is that Utah and the Intermountain West are seismically active. There is geological evidence that supports the likelihood of earthquakes in Utah.

The second area is Why Should I prepare? The answer to this query is that earthquakes can do great damage to buildings and other structures. Nearly eighty percent of Utah’s population lives within 15 miles of the Wasatch Fault line in the Wasatch Front area. Your life could change unexpectedly in the next quake and you need to prepare now so that you are able to get through it.

The third area is What Should I do? There are seven steps to earthquake safety. They are:

Step One: Identify hazards in your home and fix them

Step Two: Create a disaster-preparedness plan

Step Three: Prepare disaster supply kits

Step Four: Identify building weakness and fix them

Step Five: Protect Yourself during the shaking

Step Six: Check for Injuries and Damage

Step Seven: Execute preparedness plan.

Lastly, the fourth area is What Else Should I Know? This section discusses ideas about being financially ready for an earthquake. It tells you how to set up emergency funds and also how to get emergency financial help after an earthquake.

The Handbook has other tools to help you get prepared for an earthquake. One of them is a quiz that helps you know if your home is strong enough to withstand an earthquake.


You can view the entire handbook online at:
http://geology.utah.gov/online/pdf/eq_handbook.pdf

For additional copies, contact:

Natural Resources Map & Bookstore

1594 W. North Temple

Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Phone (801)537-3320

Email: geostore@utah.gov
http:mapstore.utah.gov

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