Tremors were felt throughout Logan after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook northeast Nevada Thursday morning.
USU geology assistant professor Tony Lowry said people in the area could have experienced a variety of movements depending on their location.
"In the valley, people could have felt anything from very mild shaking to some things knocked off shelves, like frames, but that would have been the maximum of the shaking," he said.
Lowry said the tremors people felt were determined by their location in the valley, the construction of buildings and the sediments on which they are constructed. No matter one's location yesterday morning, Lowry said "it's a good distance to be feeling it."
The quake's epicenter was in Wells, Nev., Lowry said, which is about 200 miles from Logan
He said the earthquake was on the "edge between moderate and large earthquake."
If an earthquake of that magnitude were to hit Logan, he said damage would be obvious.
"If it's right under our feet, it could do a fair size of damage- chimneys knocked over, brick facades falling of buildings, which I understand happened in Wells," he said.
Lowry said an earthquake measuring 7 to 7.5 magnitude would be the largest that could happen on the East Cache Fault, which runs through Cache Valley. Fault movement of that size, he said, would cause a loss of power, phones and any form of communication. He also said there would be mass confusion.
"There would be chaos. Absolute chaos," he said.
USU geology professor Jim Evans said there is no reason to believe Thursday's quake will increase the likelihood of one in Cache Valley however, he said people have got to understand the area in which they live and the potential for earthquakes.
"We have a significant earthquake risk here in Cache Valley," Evans said.
He also said it is important for people to be prepared.
"Prepare," Evans said. "Everybody in earthquake country should have a 72-hour kit."
He said kits should include cash, water, food and clothes.
Both professors said there is no real cause for concern for students, just be aware and prepare.
"Never worry because worrying is negative energy. Be aware of where we live. We live in earthquake country," Evans said.
Lowry said, "Just be prepared. It's not something you want to lose sleep over."
-arie.k@aggiemail.usu.edu
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