Latest News

New USSC Chair to Tackle Seismic Safety of Utah's Schools

As chair of the USSC, Roger Evans plans to reduce Utah’s earthquake risk by advocating for improved seismic safety in Utah schools.

The majority of Utah’s schools lie close to the Wasatch fault and within a zone of high seismic risk. However, numerous schools are potentially unsafe as they were constructed prior 1975, when seismic regulations became a significant part of the earthquake design provisions of the 1973 Uniform Building Code.

An informal survey in 2006 revealed that 58 percent of K-12 public schools responding to the survey (43 percent of all Utah schools) were constructed before 1975. Schools constructed prior to 1975 may have unreinforced masonry (brick and mortar) construction, which is not capable of withstanding even moderate earthquake shaking. Unreinforced masonry buildings (or URMs) are prone to collapse in strong earthquakes and would account for large losses in Wasatch Front earthquake-hazard assessments. (press release)

Next Quarterly Meeting

The next quarterly meeting of the USSC will be held Thursday October 22, 2009, at 9 a.m. in the Kletting Room of the Senate Building (East building at the State Capitol Complex). (agenda)

Please contact Chris DuRoss (christopherduross@utah.gov) for more information.

Press Releases

New USSC Chair to Tackle Seismic Safety of Utah's Schools

Putting Down Roots Publication

New Publications

Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country – Your handbook for earthquakes in Utah

Minutes

Minutes from the May 2009 quarterly meeting.

Minutes from the January 2009 quarterly meeting.