Small earthquake felt in areas of southeastern Colorado and Utah
by Lisa J. Church
staff writer
Jan 31, 2013 | 985 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Don Curley and his wife, Janet, knew exactly what they were feeling when a small earthquake struck western Colorado and southeastern Utah on Wednesday, Jan. 23. The couple, who moved to La Sal from the San Francisco Bay Area approximately 13 years ago, experienced many earthquakes during their time in California.

“We were both born in California so we lived with earthquakes all our lives,” Curley said. It was unmistakable what happened.”

The earthquake was “very mild” compared to some he has experienced, Curley said.

“It wasn’t the real heavy jolting type,” Curley said of last week’s earthquake, which was centered about 15 miles east of La Sal and about 55 miles southeast of Moab. “It was milder, but it lasted about 20 seconds. It was just a gentle shaking.”

A seismic station that is operated by the University of Utah is located on Curley’s property in La Sal, and he said the equipment is so sensitive that it registers earthquake activity from around the world. In March 2011, the equipment recorded the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that devastated areas of Japan, he said.

Curley said last week’s earthquake “moved a glass of water on the table” in his home and “a lamp was gently swaying.” There was no damage reported, he said.

The U.S. Geological Survey noted that the magnitude 3.9 quake struck at 9:46 p.m.

University of Utah officials noted that the area was hit by earthquakes measuring 4.4 in 2000 and 4.1 in 2004.
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