Recent earthquakes highlight need for disaster planning

According to the latest FEMA data, earthquake losses in the U.S. total roughly $6.1 billion dollars annually. (Photo: Shutterstock)

During the first three months of 2020, the continental United States experienced five earthquakes measuring magnitude 5 or more, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These include a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck outside Salt Lake City on March 18, and, 13 days later, a magnitude 6.5 quake 80 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. 

At magnitude 6.5, the Idaho quake was the first of the year categorized as “strong” by the USGS, and it shook about six times more violently than the one near Salt Lake City. Fortunately, there were no reports of serious damage or injury because it was centered in a sparsely populated area, but the quake was the most powerful to strike Idaho since 1983.