News and Media: Disaster 4548

SALT LAKE CITY – “Earthquakes happen when they wanna happen,” says Doug Perry, public information officer for the Murray School District. “Unfortunately, the Magna Quake [March 18] happened in the middle of a pandemic. Not having to worry about our school buildings ─ that they survived and performed well ─ was a huge relief for our district.”

SALT LAKE CITY – Wildfire season is once again raging, and areas throughout the West are feeling the impact. Once the fires are out, people and communities are at risk for another threat ─ flooding. 

Wildfires leave the ground charred and unable to absorb water. This creates a flash flooding potential for years to come, even in areas that rarely experienced flooding in the past. Sometimes these flash floods can pick up ash and large debris, turning into mudflows that are highly destructive.

SALT LAKE CITY – With fires raging across the West, it’s important for Utah homeowners to be aware that defensible space is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect a house from wildfire.  You can even do most of the work yourself.

A defensible space is an area around a home or other building in which plants, debris and other items that can easily catch fire have been treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of fire to and from a structure.

SALT LAKE CITY – Tuesday, September 8 is the deadline for Utah residents to register for federal disaster assistance for damage caused by the Magna Earthquake and aftershocks between March 18 and April 17.

Utahns impacted by the disaster who haven’t registered can still apply for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Help is available in most languages.

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah residents can  do several things to reduce potential earthquake hazards and damage in their homes.

Steps you can take on your own include: