Geog 1800
Portfolio Assignment Questions.
4/17/11
Question 1: What potential problems do you see in terms of the spatial distribution of hospitals,
police stations, and fire stations in Wasatch County, Utah compared to the fault lines and
potential liquefaction zones? How about transportation networks? How would that affect
emergency response crews?
In Wasatch County where I live, the impact to the emergency services would not be that
big according to the study. Being on the Wasatch back, there is some distance between the
fault line located on the Wasatch Front. In Salt Lake County on the other side of the mountains
from me, it is a different story. A majority of the emergency services are located within less than
a few miles from the fault itself. Also the major transportation routes run parallel to, and in some
places cross over the faults. These things together could be big problems for first responders.
There is also a chance that many of the major hospitals would be damaged or destroyed.
Question 2: How close (in miles) do you live, work, or go to school near a fault line and what
liquefaction zone are you in? What potential hazards might you expect during or following an
earth quake along the Wasatch fault?
I go to the Salt Lake Community College Redwood Campus which is located in the High
Potential zone for Liquefaction, and also just a few miles from some of the fault lines.
Some of the hazards that could be expected during and after an earth quake would be
damage to the buildings or collapse. Also the major roads would likely be closed or destroyed
due to their close proximity to the fault lines.