The Great Utah ShakeOut Encourages Emergency Preparedness Across Eagle Mountain
Residents of Eagle Mountain are encouraged to take part in this year’s Utah ShakeOut Drill on April 16, a statewide effort focused on improving earthquake awareness and emergency readiness.
The annual drill brings together individuals, families, schools, and workplaces across Utah to practice what to do during an earthquake and to evaluate their emergency plans. While many will participate at the same time statewide, the ShakeOut also allows flexibility, participants can register and complete their drill at a time that works best for them.
ShakeOut Drill and Public Training
The citywide earthquake drill will take place at 10:15 AM. Later that evening, a public training will be held at Eagle Mountain City Hall from 7 to 8 PM, where community members can learn practical skills to better prepare their households.
Emergency Manager Dave Ulibarri emphasized the importance of participation at every level.
“The goal is to get families involved in emergency preparedness in one way or another,” said Ulibarri. “We want residents to feel confident in knowing what to do during an earthquake.”
Understanding the Risk
Earthquake risk in Utah is often underestimated, despite the state’s active geology.
According to The Great ShakeOut Utah, “90% of Utah’s population lives in active earthquake zones,” with the highest risk concentrated along the Wasatch Front.
While many residents have not experienced a damaging earthquake in the state, that lack of firsthand experience can create a false sense of security. Experts note that long gaps between major earthquakes are common, but they also mean the likelihood of a future event continues to increase over time.
Practice Makes a Difference
One of the most important parts of the ShakeOut is practicing the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique. In a real earthquake, there may only be a few seconds to react before strong shaking begins.
- Drop to the ground
- Cover under a sturdy desk or table
- Hold On until the shaking stops
In most situations, people are safest staying indoors and moving only a few steps to a secure location. If you are outside, move to an open area away from buildings, trees, and power lines. If you are driving, pull over to a safe location and remain in your vehicle until the shaking stops.
Most earthquake-related injuries are caused by falling objects and debris rather than the shaking itself. Knowing where to go ahead of time and acting quickly can significantly reduce the risk of harm.
Residents interested in expanding their preparedness efforts can also look into Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and other local workshops.
Additional preparedness resources, including planning tools and safety information, are available at beready.utah.gov.