Kemmerer, Wyoming - Earthquake Information

Kemmerer, Wyoming has 7 different quaternary earthquake faults within a 25-mile radius of town, and there may be newer not yet graphed earthquake faults in the Kemmerer, Wyoming area as well.

Quaternary earthquake faults are defined as active earthquake faults that have had at least one past earthquake registering larger than a magnitude 6, sometime during the last 1,600,000 years. (Click here to see USGS Quaternary Fault information.)

What this means for Kemmerer, Wyoming is that it has at least 7 live earthquake faults, each capable of providing a sizable earthquake, close enough to town to perhaps cause damages when the next earthquake happens. The local Kemmerer, Wyoming quaternary earthquake faults are identified on the USGS site as:

Kemmerer, Wyoming Quaternary Earthquake Faults

#729 Rock Creek Fault - Runs north-south less than 10-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

#733 Sublette Flat Fault - Runs north-south beside #729 about 21-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

#734 EasternBearValley Fault - Runs north-south beside #733 about 25 miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

#735 WestBearValley Faults - They run north-south with #734 about 25-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

#736 ElkMountain Fault - Runs north-south and down from #729 less than 11-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

#737 North Bridger Creek Fault - Runs north-south beside #736 about 21-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

#738 Spring Creek Fault - Runs north-south below #736 & #737 about 25-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming.

(Click here to see USGS earthquake maps.)

Nobody can predict exactly when an earthquake will happen near Kemmerer, Wyoming. But, scientists do supply educated guesses about when the next earthquake might happen near Kemmerer, Wyoming based upon facts taken from current and past earthquake activity for the region.

Lately, there has been earthquake information available in the media for the Wasatch Range running through the Salt Lake City, Utah area. This neighboring area to Kemmerer, Wyoming is currently preparing for their predicted once every 350-years earthquake of magnitude 6+ that may be felt lightly in the Kemmerer, Wyoming area.

When looking at the USGS earthquake-time and earthquake-size predictions for Kemmerer, Wyoming local area faults, keep in mind that Kemmerer's local earthquake faults are not the only active earthquake faults that might be felt in the town of Kemmerer, Wyoming.

The following figures are taken from the latest 2002 USGS probability map information for a radius of 32-miles, or 50km, around the town of Kemmerer, Wyoming. It should be noted that another higher chance of earthquake zoning area lies less than 32-miles away from Kemmerer, Wyoming:

Kemmerer, Wyoming Earthquake Probability Ratings

During the next 10-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 5% to 10% chance of a magnitude 5+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 20-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 10% to 20% chance of a magnitude 5+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 100-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 60% chance of a magnitude 5+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 10-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 2% - 3.5% chance of a magnitude 6+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 20-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 6% chance of a magnitude 6+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 100-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 25% - 30% chance of a magnitude 6+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 10-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a ~0% (.003) chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 20-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a ~0% (.003) chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

During the next 100-years Kemmerer, Wyoming has a 2% to 3% chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake happening in the area according to USGS calculations.

(Click here to see USGS probability maps.)

Kemmerer, Wyoming Earthquake Damage Estimates

In May 2006, the State of Wyoming announced through FEMA that they would be doing a phase-one HAZUS Case Study on each county in Wyoming to determine a risk-assessment towards slope stability, underground mines, wildfire hazard, potential loss of life, and the possible loss to buildings and utilities from area earthquakes. Kemmerer, Wyoming is in the Lincoln County assessment.

Wyoming Department of Homeland Security has the results for the 2006 HAZUS Case Study on their web site. As seen in these HAZUS Case Study results:

For Lincoln County, the estimated loss from a moderate earthquake will result in roughly 391,727,000.00 dollars worth of damages.

The actual building damage loss-ratio is 31.08%. (In rough terms, 31.08% building damages is an expected one-third of our homes, schools, churches, and employment buildings suffering losses from a moderate earthquake. The county area closest to the actual earthquake will receive the most damages. Kemmerer, Wyoming is close to 7 active earthquake faults.)

Lincoln County has the highest expected building damage and loss-ratio for the state of Wyoming. Other Wyoming counties are expecting less than a 5% loss rate compared to Lincoln County at 31.08% expected losses. Kemmerer, Wyoming is in the county that is expected to have the highest earthquake damages anywhere in Wyoming.

(Click here to read Wyoming Department of Homeland Security 2006 HAZUS Case Study results.)

Safety: Pre-Earthquake / Home

People living in Kemmerer, Wyoming, an area with known live earthquake faults should always be prepared for an earthquake to happen in their home, and while at work. Click here to read a good description about what an earthquake feels like from USGS, so that a better understanding is gained about the event that you may be preparing for.

In a nut-shell, a moderate earthquake happening close to your Kemmerer, Wyoming home will feel (and act) like a freight-train driving under your feet. In a large earthquake the shaking is violent, standing up is hard to do, and some people can hear the earthquake coming and going as it reaches neighboring buildings causing crashes or screams before and after your building.

To secure a Kemmerer, Wyoming home against unnecessary damages caused by an earthquake, start by examining the home inside and out with the thought that a freight-train will be driving through it:

Secure tall and heavy furniture to the floor or walls.

Secure your water heater to the floor or wall.

Secure your wood stoves so that they can not fall over or slide.

Secure your computer system to the desk and keep a copy of important files online so that they are not lost if your computer is injured.

Double-sticky tape the bottoms of prized curios to shelves; secure shelves to walls.

Examine bedrooms for falling object hazards and mirrored doors that can shatter.

Examine overhead lights and fans to see that they are securely attached to ceiling.

Windows, mirrors, and shower doors can shatter; be aware of hazardous inside areas.

Chimneys, pre-1940 building masonry, electric wires, store windows, and older trees can all fall down; be aware of your outside hazards.

Garage chemicals can fall and mix into poisonous gas; secure garage hazards.

Kitchen cupboard doors should have latches to prevent their contents from flying.

Every home in Kemmerer, Wyoming should have an emergency first aid kit on hand that includes a portable radio.

Click here for an extensive list of home pre-earthquake safety ideas from quakeinfo.org.

Click here for Wyoming State Geological Society detailed instructions on how to safeguard your home in preparation for an earthquake.

Safety: Pre-Earthquake / Commercial Property

Heavy items can fall from warehouse shelves; secure shelves and store heavy items low.

File drawers can open fast to injure people, and file towers can topple; secure the office.

Lights, heater vents, and all ceiling attachments should be extra secure.

Employees should all be aware of how to turn the gas, electricity, and water off if needed.

Employees should all be aware of outdoor hazard areas with signs, tall outbuildings, lights, and other things that can fall.

Landslides can happen after a quake, outside employees should be aware of their terrain.

Click here to view the popular Commercial Property Owner's Guide To Earthquake Safety by the State of California.

Safety: What To Do During An Earthquake

A Kemmerer, Wyoming area earthquake will not give any warning before the earth moves violently under your feet. Back in the 1960's and 1970's the common earthquake suggestion on how to stay safe during an earthquake was to stand in a doorway, with this area sometimes being the strongest part of a wall.

Today, during an earthquake it is suggested that you get under a strong desk or table while riding the earthquake. Senior citizens and those who can not crouch their bodies into a tiny ball to prevent injury from falling items, are still told to get into an inside doorway for safety.

During an earthquake, stay inside if this is where you are when the earthquake happens. As can be seen in various news reports after earthquakes from around the globe, many people are injured and killed from the outsides of buildings, chimney's, electrical wires and trees falling on them.

If driving or running heavy machinery at work when an earthquake hits, stop away from utility lines, bridges, or embankments that might fail. Turn off your vehicle. It is best to wait a full 5-minute after an earthquake before getting out of your vehicle to inspect your surroundings. Drive cautiously after a quake.

Safety: What To Do Immediately After An Earthquake

Check yourself and those around you for injuries. Do not try to move a seriously injured person. Do not try to go into a collapsed or partially collapsed Kemmerer, Wyoming building. Turn on your portable radio, do not use electricity. Put out cigarettes, candles, and other heat sources until you have checked for damages.

After an earthquake, turn off your gas at the main switch. If you use gas as a heat source, keep a pair of pliers beside your cut-off switch and make sure that each member of the family knows how to use them. After shutting off the gas, turn off the other utilities until you know that they are safe to use.

Do a very quick assessment of your Kemmerer, Wyoming living area to make sure that you do not have any fires in progress from overturned candles, a broken wood stove, or an electrical short. Check for flooding from a toppled water heater, or broken pipe. If you see a fire in your home, leave instantly; you do not know if a gas line is ruptured or not.

If you find yourself stranded under debris in Kemmerer, Wyoming don't scream, dust will get into your lungs. Instead, find something loud to keep banging with. Stay calm. In small-town Kemmerer, Wyoming people will come find you if you are missing.

After making sure that your Kemmerer, Wyoming family is safe, check on elderly neighbors who might need help with turning off their utilities and getting to safety.

Clip your pets onto a leash or into a carrying cage. The pets will be upset, even the friendliest dog might bite or try other small-brain ideas on how to get away from the shaking ground.

Stay off of your cell-phones and telephones unless you have an emergency call to make. Save the phone services for people who really need to use them. During a disaster, people making non-emergency calls will often tie up the systems so that emergency calls can not get airtime.

Click here to read about what to do after an earthquake from The American Red Cross.

Other Interesting Kemmerer, Wyoming Earthquake Facts

Kemmerer, Wyoming mines can cause earthquake readings on the USGS tracking devices. Kemmerer Mine has made explosions registering seismicity at 2.8 in year 2000. "Kemmerer -- Large-scale surface mining of coal occurs in the Hams Fork Coalfield near Kemmerer (Keystone, 1997). The largest suspected explosion from this region that is listed in the catalogs of routine mining seismicity for May 1997 -- March 2000 had ML (USGS) = 2.8." (Click here for USGS.)

According to the Wyoming Geological Survey Board western Wyoming can have an earthquake registering a hefty 7.5. (Click here to see this WGSB booklet.)