2021
Register for the Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Thursday, April 15, 2021 here: https://www.shakeout.org/utah/index.html
Learn more below!
2020
Imagine it is 7:09am and you are just putting your shoes on to go into work when your home starts to move back and forth for 20 seconds. You realize that an earthquake is happening right now… What is going through your head? How do you react? How do you think that your family reacts?
For many Utahns that live near Salt Lake City, this is more than just an imaginary thought. This is a reality that they recently experienced when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Magna, Utah on March 18th, 2020 (earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive).
Are you and your family prepared to react during an earthquake? Do you know the “Drop! Cover! Hold On!” procedure to protect yourself? Do you have emergency supplies? Do you have a meeting place if you are separated?
For many people, including ourselves, there are areas where we can improve our preparedness for an earthquake event and NOW is the time start that preparation by participating in the GREAT UTAH SHAKEOUT.
(Video from www.shakeout.org/utah)
WHAT?
The “Great Utah ShakeOut” is a statewide earthquake drill that encourages general awareness for earthquake events, how we prepare for them, how we stay safe during them, and how we can get on the path of recovery. This is for individuals, families, and organizations, big or small, because we do not know when the next earthquake will hit and where we will be.
HOW?
The first step is to register yourself or your organization at www.shakeout.org/utah/howtoparticipate.
Then, the next step is to start your preparation for the event using some of the resources listed on the website where you registered. Over the next week leading up to this event, we will be highlighting some of the items noted on the website, along with other resources like FEMA, with the intent of providing additional information about how you can prepare yourself and your family.
Stay tuned for more highlights and insights.
WHY?
Nearly 90% of Utah residents live in an earthquake zone (www.shakeout.org/utah/whyparticipate). Many of them were recently reminded of the fact that we live along the Wasatch fault line and that an earthquake in Utah is not out of the question.
To help protect ourselves, our families, our businesses, and our society, we need to be prepared. There are things that we can all do to help reduce the losses during an earthquake and help recover quickly.
(Video from www.utah.gov/beready)
WHO?
This is geared towards individuals, families, and organizations, big or small, because the earthquake may happen when we are at home or away from home.
For a complete list of who is participating go to www.shakeout.org/utah/whoisparticipating.
Share the information from this blog and the event with your friends and family to help make sure that they are prepared and safe when the next earthquake hits.
WHEN?
While the earthquake drill is on April 16th, 2020 at 10:15am, the time to prepare a plan and get your family on the same page is NOW!
If you are unable to take part in the drill at the same time the entire state will be participating, then you may opt to pick another date to role-play on your own. The important thing in all of this is to create a plan and start getting prepared now.
Do you live outside of Utah? Well you can still participate by going to www.shakeout.org to find when your state or country is hosting the “Shake Out” earthquake drill.
Here is a list of additional resources:
- Shaking Intensity versus Measured Magnitude (Figure, Page 13)
- Earthquake Strengthening Projects (Figure, Page 31)
- Home Safety Checklist Summary (Figure, Page 65)
- 7 Steps to Earthquake Safety
- Earthquake Hazard Hunt
- Drop, Cover, and Hold On!
- Earthquake Safety Checklist
- Is your home earthquake ready?
Special thanks to The Hipster Engineer and The Structural Engineering Podcast!