LOCAL NEWS

California Earthquakes a Reminder to Prepare

Jul 6, 2019, 5:30 PM | Updated: 10:20 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It looks like a control room out a movie set.

Several TV monitors, maps, and rows of desks.

But when a real disaster hits Utah, such as an earthquake, people like Bob Carey will be in this room getting help where it’s needed.

“We try to keep our finger on the pulse,” said Carey. “We do real time monitoring here.”

The room is Utah’s Emergency Operations Center, inside the state Capitol, and Carey is the Earthquake Program Manager.

After the big earthquakes that have hit California the past few days, he knows people in Utah are wondering if it could mean anything for here.

“The fault that they had this earthquake on is the basin end of the basin and range. That’s the western edge. We’re the eastern edge,” said Carey.  “Between that location on the west side and here, that whole region is being extended. It’s being pulled apart. You’re seeing something on the west side and we’re the east side of that something.”

Carey says the fault line along the Wasatch Front is similar to the one in California where those quakes hit.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will do anything in Utah.

“A lot of times, they try to associate what’s happening in California to what’s happening here. Apples and oranges,” said Carey.

He does believe there will be a big one at some point along the Wasatch Front.

People have been talking about it for decades.

Instead of worrying, though, he says people should prepare.

“Government is going to do what they can do but it’s going to take a while,” he said. “So, you’re probably going to need to be able to sustain yourself for about a week. That means you’re going to supply your food, your water, and all your needs.”

He feels when you’re ready for a disaster, it’s easier to get through when and if one happens.

“Don’t be afraid. Be educated, be empowered, and start doing the preparedness stuff,” he said. “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Bob Carey Monitoring Control Room Emergency Operations Center

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California Earthquakes a Reminder to Prepare