The Wasatch Fault runs along the Wasatch Mountains from Malad City in Idaho to Fayette, down South in Utah. It is actually a few different faults that run together instead of just one fault. The mountain range was created from the faults by being pushed up over millions of years. As earthquakes have happened, it has shaped the mountain range over time. The Mountain range (and the fault) is right in the middle, with the basin and range to the West and the Colorado Plateau to the East. Geologists have found evidence of underground earthquakes that have broken up the ground, which pointed them to where the fault would be. By digging in certain areas and gathering data when eruptions do occur, they have figured out where the fault runs and have been able to create reliable maps. They have come to the conclusion that there are about 10 different faults that run along that corridor, and they have each produced different-strength earthquakes at different times in the past.
The first thing that surprised me was that it showed earthquakes today at 3 different sites. I did not realize how much activity there is along the fault, even if we cannot feel it. All of the locations do seem to run along the fault and stick close to the mountain range. The 3 that happened just today (July 3rd) were not right next to each other. One was way up North, while the other 2 further away from that in Idaho. Yesterday, there were 11 small earthquakes, and again, they were all over the state of Utah and Idaho, but sticking to the mountain range and not getting too far away from it. The pattern that occurred to me is that you cannot really be certain where the next earthquake will be, except that it will be along the fault line somewhere.
I had been told since I first moved to Utah that there was a big earthquake just ready to hit Utah any day now. I have been in Utah on and off for the last 30 years, and so I have buried that information in the back of my mind, as it really doesn’t feel like it pertains to me much anymore. At first, I was a little alarmed and thought I'd better have everything I need in my home just in case, but now I just feel I need to live my life, and if something happens, then I guess something happens. An earthquake is not something you can prevent, and so worrying about it is doing no one any good. Having said that, I know I do need to care about the possibility, as I do live in Provo close to the mountains, and so I should be somewhat prepared when it comes to natural disasters. I have the basic things stored in my house in case of an emergency that I can grab if I need to make a quick exit. I remember the earthquake in Magna a few years back, and I know they are still trying to clean up from that as it caused a lot of damage.
I live alone but with a few animals, and so to be prepared, I do have small carriers for my animals. I also have backpacks ready to go under my stairs that hold first aid items, flashlights, and astronaut blankets. I also have all my camping equipment in that area in 2 totes, so they are easy to grab. If there were an emergency, I could shove everything plus my animals in my car for a quick getaway. I even have all my important documents in a small fire safe that is the size of a briefcase and easy to grab and take with me. If I needed to hole up in my home, I have all those things accessible as well, on top of water and some food supplies. My kids are grown now, but when they were younger, we would have a designated meeting place close to their school and our home in case of an emergency where they could not get to us or we to them. Now that my kids live in other places, we share each other's locations on our phones, but I am sure that in case of a natural disaster, those services would not work. We all live close enough to each other that I could walk to check on them if necessary.
I think in the long run, I am pretty on top of all of it, as I know where the shut-offs to my home are and have some items prepared in case I need to flee or shelter indoors. There is really only so much you can do without creating a panic or giving yourself ulcers worrying. I have gone through several trainings while working for Alpine School District that have helped me be a little more prepared, and I think common sense will help along the way as well.
[Written for GEOG 3200 class UVU Summer 2023]
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