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"In the wake of Hawaii's early morning earthquake, which registered at 6.6 on the richter scale, many wonder: Is Utah soon to follow?
Most Utahns know the Wasatch Fault Line runs directly through Weber State University's Stewart Stadium. Also, many are lying in wait for the "Big One" to strike. Scientists say Utah is overdue for a large earthquake, and it is estimated that this quake could be anywhere from a 5.5 to an 8+ on the richter scale. It is said the damage near the fault line is often the least, but it would make for massive changes in the way students go about their day.
Imagine the traffic horrors of losing the upper 'W' parking, Lind Lecture Hall, or the Science Building, not to mention the football field would be in complete disarray. The good news is that the Stewart Stadium has been recently "earthquake proofed," and is ready for just such an eventuality.
"I think it could happen today, tomorrow or even next year," said Laura Graeme, a sophomore at WSU. "And I think that when it does, we're going to be ready enough to survive it."
The Wasatch Front area is not only a classic example of a seismically active region, having only moderate historical seismic activity, but also a high catastrophic potential from future large earthquakes. Utah's last major earthquake occurred in 1934 and reached a 6.5 on the richter scale, and two people were killed. Utah residents have learned from their mistakes by setting up emergency plans for their communities, homes and surrounding areas.
There are things people can do to prepare their homes and family for an earthquake. Many of these things will help prepare them for other emergencies and disasters as well. According to the Department of Public Safety Emergency Services and Homeland Security, everyone should store three days worth of food and water, make emergency plans with their families in the event of a quake, and also know the proper places of safety in your workplace, home and neighborhood.
The Wasatch Fault Line has definite earthquake potential. Earthquakes can strike at any time without warning, causing major damage to homes and critical infrastructures.

They are almost always followed by aftershocks that can be even larger than the initial quake, so being prepared is a must.
"Being in the Wasatch Fault Zone, you could experience multiple hazards," said Alex Heely, a geosciences student at WSU. "We could get landslides, flooding and soil liquefaction that could destroy homes and our current geological landscape."
In collaboration with researchers at the Utah Geological Survey, University of Utah, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, San Diego State University, and Weber State University, the Geologic Hazards Team Intermountain West Mega Project has conducted several high-resolution seismic imaging investigations along the Wasatch front to better characterize earthquake hazards and ground motion in our area. These studies, to date, have been focused in the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys and are done in order to detect an earthquake before it happens and give people proper warning.
In all eventuality, the Wasatch Front's "Big One" is on its way. Students, teachers, parents, and residents, need to be prepared for the unpredictable. This earthquake could change the landscape a little more than some would like, and would probably send WSU's campus into chaos and mayhem for a time, but so long as everyone is awarethat it could and will happen, students will be ready."