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Show Local earthquake 'when,' not 'if By KALYN SECRETAN Lindon City Council was told to "Expect the Unexpected," in a report given by Charmaine Childs after she attended the Governors Earthquake Conference. Charmaine came away feeling things are very grim and frightening. There was a feeling of urgency to prepare Utah for an earthquake all along the Wasatch Front. The question in Utah is not, "If" we have an earthquake, but "When." Many lives can be saved if we are prepared and know how to respond, she said. Utah can expect an earthquake as large as the Mexico City destruction. destruc-tion. Many lives can be saved if emergency equipment is prepared and we know how to respond. Residents of Lindon could be alone and isolated ' for days as larger cities will receive help first. The Governor doesns't want Utah to be known as a state who ignored the warnings. Utah is moving west along with Idaho, Nevada and California. 85 percent of all Utahns live along the Wasatch Fault, 200 miles long, from Brigham City to Nephi. Utah can expect an earthquake rating 7.3 as experienced in Idaho three years ago. The Wasatch Fault is similar to the Idaho fault. Powerful aftershocks were felt following the Idaho earthquake measuring 5.4 - 5.8. There are 10 segments which could drop along the Front and produce an earthquake. They move independently and any segment could drop and cause major damage. An earthquake 250 miles away can cause damage to our . area. During the Mexican earthquake there was on injury in Salt Lake City where a typewriter fell from a desklrijuriRg a person..-" :' ;. There were 2200 deaths and 29,000 homeless following the Mexican Earthquake. Mexico City shook for three minutes which caused the overpasses and freeways to be shaken down. "There is a 20 foot drop in Lindon City and Utah Lake is in our back yard," she added. It will be impossible im-possible for homes to stand up to the earthquake. During an earthquake roads will become impassable, ground will shake, gaslines will break causing huge fire and falling debris. Buildings, will collapse and the lake will rise and cover homes. Utahns are encouraged to get the facts, its human nature not to be frightened of something you have not experienced. The facts are frightening and participants were overwhelmed and ask "Where do we start?" Charmaine Char-maine noted. We need to feel an urgency. Anticipate what could happen. Make a plan on how to handle possible problems during an earthquake. ear-thquake. Much of the conference dealt h with "Critical Incident Distress." It was found many medical and emergency personnel commit suicide following a crisis because they felt like they could have done more during the crisis. World renown authorities part-cipated part-cipated in the conference and prepared videos on how they helped during the crisis and how the media informed the people. Lindon City invited president Don Holdaway and Burnell Taylor, the Stake Emergency Training Representataive, to the Earthquake report. They discussed with the Council how to coordinate emergency efforts planed by the LDS Church. Lindon City Hall has always been designated as the Emergency Command Center. In considering, "What if it is destroyed or under. water?" They felt an' -alternate location should be designated. Follow up meetings will be held to consider emergency training for the city. |