Authorities received thousands of widespread reports of last night’s small earthquake 10 miles east of Bountiful. Katherine Whidden, research seismologist with the University of Utah Seismology Stations, says the reports were extensive because the epicenter was so close to the metro area.
“It’s was felt all over the valley from I think North Ogden to Tooele, to Draper, even in Park City they felt it. And mostly what I’m hearing is people felt a couple of jolts. One person said, who was closer to the epicenter, said that they felt shaking for about 10 seconds, it was pretty scary,” says Whidden. “I haven’t heard any reports of damage which we would not expect for a magnitude 3.3. In the big scheme of earthquakes this was a very small earthquake.”
Whidden says small earthquakes help scientists with research but are also important for residents.
“These little earthquakes are a good reminder that we live in earthquake country and that we can have a large damaging earthquake at any time and the best thing people can do to be prepared,says Whidden, “is to have a 72-hour kit for their family, so food, water, medicine, supplies for everyone in our family for at least three days.”
Whidden says people have been reporting their quake experience increasingly through the “Did You Feel It?” button on the USGS. gov website compared to the traditional phone calls.
