Earthquake safety in the winter looks different, expert says
Feb 7, 2023, 5:00 AM
Dr. Keith Koper, director of University of Utah Seismograph Stations, shows an earthquake pattern from a seismometer in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (Mengshin Lin/Deseret News)
(Mengshin Lin/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Monday’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria has devastated several areas. Cold weather patterns are only making the situation more challenging. One expert said that earthquake safety is important specifically in cold weather.
Utah’s Earthquake Program Manager John Crofts told Dave and Dujanovic what dangers the winter poses to earthquake survivors.
“In severe weather, many people can only last three to four hours in extreme conditions without adequate shelter,” Crofts said. “Maintaining their body temperature in hot or cold temperatures is vital for survival.”
But there are things you can do to prepare for emergency situations according to Crofts.
One crucial survival tip is to layer your clothes. Be Ready Utah recommends a three-layer clothing system, which is meant to keep body heat and remain dry.
Along with layering, Crofts recommended that Utahans practice “gathering shelter, supplies like blankets, tents, sleeping bags and being able to deal with cold weather.”
Sheltering and layering can be the key to surviving an emergency like an earthquake.
“In Utah, there’s a 57% chance that we’ll have a probability of a 6.0 earthquake in the next 50 years,” Crofts said. He emphasized that it was an issue that should be recognized by the state and its residents.
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