This is your fault, Utah.
It's an earthquake-primed north-south trail that follows the state's primary transportation and population corridor along Interstate 15, putting everyone at risk when -- not if -- the earth starts to shake, rattle and hum.
There may be no one but geology to blame when the Big One finally hits, but the Wasatch Fault will be nearly everyone's fault then: The Utah Seismic Safety Commission says 80 percent of Utah's population lives within 15 miles of the Wasatch Fault in the Wasatch Front area, putting four out of five Utahns in the state's danger zone.
Earthquakes are on everyone's mind recently: the 7.0 magnitude temblor that devastated Haiti in January; an 8.8-magnitude quake that shook Chile and sparked fears of tsunami across the globe in February. This week, a 7.2 earthquake and aftershocks in Baja California affected U.S. cities, and a 7.7 temblor hit in Sumatra, Indonesia.
In Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert proclaimed April 4-10 as Earthquake Preparedness Week.
Lance Peterson, director of emergency management and homeland security in Weber County, said it's important for individuals and families to be prepared to take care of themselves immediately following a catastrophic event.
"The definition of a disaster is that we're overwhelmed, we don't have enough resources to respond," Peterson said. "If we had enough resources to respond, it's not a disaster."
You will likely be on your own for the first 72 hours, Peterson said.
The assessment of damage and prioritization of resources will begin as soon as the ground stops moving, but it could take days for help to arrive at a specific home.
"That's why a 72-hour kit and neighbor helping neighbor is so important," Peterson said.
A family disaster plan should outline where to meet and who to contact to find family members if they are separated at school or work when the temblor strikes.
The 72-hour kit needs to have enough food and water, clothing and first-aid supplies to provide for your needs until help arrives. Water is especially important, Peterson said, because many waterlines and other infrastructure in the Top of Utah will not withstand a large quake.
Peterson recommends insuring your home against earthquake damage.
He also suggests attending a Community Emergency Response Team training session held in your city, typically one night a week over a seven-week course.
"CERT is the kind of training that just might save your life," Peterson said. "CERT teaches you some basic skills in putting out a fire, search and rescue, extrication and medical (though it is not a CPR class)."
CERT-trained citizens will be instrumental as likely first responders near their own homes, he said.
"They're critical because it's going to be neighbor helping neighbor," Peterson said.
There have been 16 earthquakes greater than magnitude 5.5 since pioneers settled in Utah in 1847, according to a handbook, "Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country," published by the Utah Seismic Safety Commission.
The Wasatch Front can expect temblors greater than 6.0 on the Richter scale at least once every 50 years. The last two were a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on the Utah-Nevada border in 1966 and a 6.0 in 1975 on the Utah-Idaho border. St, George felt a 5.9 quake in 1992.
The area also has a long geologic history of quakes greater than 6.5.
When a Wasatch Fault quake hits, Weber and Davis counties could be relatively undamaged, said Bob Carey, earthquake program manager for the Utah Division of Homeland Security.
Carey said the most likely scenario -- a level 7.0 earthquake centered near Salt Lake City -- might cause problems in Ogden, but would not cause the same devastation as a quake closer to the city.
What are particularly vulnerable are masonry buildings built before 1975, which would be why most of Davis County, where most buildings are newer, may not be as affected.
Carey said he believes Ogden would have pockets of destruction, based on studying California quakes.
A large earthquake hitting Weber County is a possibility, he said, because "Mother Nature sometimes doesn't go where you think it should go."
If that happens, Peterson said, older, unreinforced brick buildings would be severely damaged.
Even worse are the nonstructural damages. Falling ceilings and lighting fixtures, toppled bookcases or hutches and items falling from open cupboards all could cause even more problems than walls falling down, Peterson said. He recommends people secure those types of items to the wall studs.
Carey said toppled hot water tanks and the resulting gas leaks would start fires.
Standard-Examiner reporter Di Lewis contributed to this report.
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