Pocatello could experience effects of an earthquake

Three large earthquakes recently in Japan and Ecuador, as well as a series of small ones in Northwestern Arizona, may have some people wondering what area is next.

Could Pocatello be at risk of experiencing an earthquake?

David Pearson, a professor in the geosciences department at ISU, said there is a fault line that runs under Pocatello, but it’s inactive. He said that doesn’t mean though that Pocatello couldn’t feel the effects of surrounding fault lines.

Some of those surrounding fault lines that could be felt in the gate city are near Bear Lake, the Idaho-Wyoming border, and the Wasatch fault line near Salt Lake City.

Pearson said the effects Pocatello would feel if an earthquake from surrounding fault lines occurred, would be strong to very strong shaking. Pearson said this basically means the city would see structural damage to things like plaster walls, masonry, and houses.

The U.S. Geological Survey predicts that in the next few decades, Pocatello could see some seismic activity because of those surrounding fault lines.

“That basically means a one out of two chance within the next 50 years, we’ll have a greater than magnitude 6.75 earthquake and so that’s a big probability,” said Pearson.

Pearson said he doesn’t see Pocatello as having a high seismic hazard rate. He doesn’t think Pocatello is at high risk for an earthquake that would cause severe damage and destruction. But he said it’s still important to be prepared, even if the city gets an earthquake that’s not directly under it.

For more information and maps on earthquakes, go to the U.S. Geological Survey’s website at www.usgs.gov.