Utah Stories

Personal account of 2020 Utah earthquake, 6 miles from epicenter

Already at my computer I felt the ground beneath me start to shake and heard my German Shepherd start to whine as he tried to get out of the room. There is that moment when you’re not sure what is happening and then your brain processes, “EARTHQUAKE.” 

|


Already at my computer I felt the ground beneath me start to shake and heard my German Shepherd start to whine as he tried to get out of the room. There is that moment when you’re not sure what is happening and then your brain processes, “EARTHQUAKE.”

Things started falling off the shelves around me and so I did what any sane person would do and held onto my monitor so it didn’t fall over.

We are about six miles from the reported epicenter. I’ve never been in an earthquake before and I can truly say I didn’t like it.

I got up when the shaking stopped to assess the rest of the house. Everything fell out of the hall closet, pictures and heirlooms fell off the walls and broke. A shelf above our bed holds mementos and knick-knacks. They started to fall and woke my husband up.

I did a tour of the interior of the house and kept my nose open for gas smells. I checked the pipes for water leaks. Then took a tour of the exterior still smelling for gas and looking for cracks in the foundation.

All in all, we are okay. Rattled but okay. Closer to the epicenter in Magna, my daughter had everything flying off her shelves in every part of her house. She is looking at an all day cleanup.

Tell us about your 2020 Utah earthquake experiences and damages.



Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • The “Monster” of Bear Lake

    Have you ever heard of Utah’s hidden lake monsters? Beyond the tourist buzz of Bear Lake, whispers of a mysterious creature have persisted for generations. Dive into the untold stories, rare sightings, and eerie folklore surrounding Utah’s most elusive aquatic legend. Are the rumors real, or just a product of overactive imaginations?

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.


  • Frisco, Utah: The Untold Story of the West’s Most Notorious Ghost Town

    Once a wild silver mining town, Frisco, Utah, was infamous for its nightly violence and lawless streets. Known as the “toughest mining town in the West,” its fortunes changed after a catastrophic mine collapse. Today, the deserted remains of Frisco, with its decaying kilns and empty streets, tell the story of a town that lived fast and died young. The mysteries of its vanished lawman and the outlaws who once ruled the streets still linger in its desolate landscape.

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.


  • Utah Book Bans Ignite Cultural Clash: Educator John Arthur on Local Control

    A battle over book bans is sweeping Utah’s schools, pitting state laws against local communities’ rights to shape education. Utah Teacher of the Year John Arthur steps into the fray, challenging restrictions that he believes rob students of vital perspectives and the freedom to explore. Are blanket bans the answer, or are we sacrificing young minds in a cultural clash?


  • Why Utah’s Homelessness Crisis Needs a Radical Solution: The Peer-Led Village That’s Succeeding Where Government Programs Fail

    Utah’s homelessness crisis is getting worse, despite billions in taxpayer dollars spent on traditional solutions. But a bold, peer-led project in Salt Lake City is defying the odds, delivering life-changing results with a human-first approach. The Other Side Village is run by people who have been there—survivors of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration—and they’re proving that a radical, no-bureaucracy model can achieve what the government hasn’t. Could this be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?