Arizona is Earthquake Country

 AZGS released a new booklet on earthquakes in Arizona that is online for free viewing and download.

Each year dozens of earthquakes occur in Arizona, most go unfelt, but rare, moderate to large magnitude earthquakes can occur. This 44-page guide includes maps, pictures and diagrams illustrating where earthquakes happen, how to prepare your home or business to prevent damage, and what to do during ground shaking. "Arizona is Earthquake Country" is the 21st booklet in the Arizona Geological Survey's popular Down-to-Earth series.

Young, active faults exist in and around Arizona. The northern Arizona Seismic Belt, which bisects Coconino County, hosts the greatest concentration of active faults in the state and is the most seismically active region in Arizona. Some faults, such as the Lake Mary Fault just south of Flagstaff, are capable of large magnitude earthquakes, up to magnitude 7. Yavapai, Mohave, Yuma, Pima, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee County all host faults capable of delivering moderate to large seismic events, too. And large earthquakes on faults from surrounding states and Mexico, including California's San Andreas fault system, are capable of damaging homes and infrastructure and threatening lives here in Arizona.
"Arizona is Earthquake Country" includes a seven-step earthquake safety guide that shows how to:

• prepare your family and home in advance of an earthquake;
• behave during an earthquake – whether indoors or out;
• deal with damage and related issues immediately following an earthquake.

The booklet provides a primer on the nature and geology of earthquakes in Arizona, describes six prominent faults, and revisits three major historic earthquakes that impacted the state. Instructions on how to use the U.S. Geological Survey's online earthquake probability tool to establish the risk of a damaging earthquake in your community are also provided. Sections on monitoring earthquakes, earthquake resources - including online resources, and a glossary, round out the text.

This earthquake preparedness guide is released just in time to complement Arizona's first-ever Great Arizona ShakeOut, a two-minute "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" earthquake drill that can minimize personal injuries and save lives. Scheduled for 10:18 a.m. on October 18th, enrollment in the ShakeOut drill is open to all, but K-12 schools are particularly encouraged to participate; for online enrollment visit the Register Here! page. To date, more than 11,500 have enrolled in ShakeOut.


Citation: Arizona Geological Survey, 2012, Arizona is Earthquake Country. Down-to-Earth #21, 44 p.