Utah seismologists pushing for earthquake warning system
Aug 20, 2024, 8:24 AM | Updated: 7:32 pm
Fourth graders Ruya Ai Sammirie and Liam Williams practice taking cover under their desks during The Great Utah ShakeOut earthquake drill at Heartland Elementary School in West Jordan on Thursday, April 18, 2024.(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah seismologists want a new earthquake warning system. They are submitting a $5 million request to Gov. Spencer Cox for the system.
An earthquake warning system could give people several seconds to prepare. Bill Keach, Utah Geological Survey director describes what would happen if a 7.0 magnitude quake struck Brigham City for example.
“Salt Lake could get 16 seconds of notice … and Provo could get 33 seconds,” he said.
Additionally, utilities would get notice to shut off gas and water lines and for trains to slow down or stop. Keach said the $5 million dollar ask pales in comparison to the estimated damage total of $60 billion dollars.
Emily Morton with the Seismology Station at the U of U said there are about 15,000 quakes in Utah every year and that the state is overdue for a big one.
“How many times do you wear your seatbelt and never need it? But that one time … you might drive 100,000 miles and you only need it once, but you’re really glad you had it when it happened,” said Morton.
“The idea is that people might have a few more seconds to protect themselves before the shaking comes in. Because the number one way people get hurt during an earthquake, is getting knocked over and things falling on them.”
