Disaster Resilience (Pt. 1)

Utah is due for “the Big One”—a magnitude 6.75 or greater earthquake somewhere along the Wasatch Front. In fact, seismic experts predict we have a 43 percent chance of experiencing “the Big One” in the next 50 years. Chances are you've heard this statistic before. But have you ever wondered why our risk is so high? 

In the newest installment of the Your Utah, Your Future podcast series, we set out to answer that question and more. We'll break down the science of earthquakes: why they happen and what happens to the earth when they do. We'll talk about the geology that puts so much of the Wasatch Front at risk and how it's possible for scientists to know we're due for a big earthquake.

Thank you to our expert guests featured on this episode: Dr. Keith Koper, Director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, Dr. Steve Bowman, Geologic Hazards Program Manager with the Utah Geological Survey, and John Crofts, Utah Earthquake Program Manager with the Utah Division of Emergency Management.