A magnitude 2.9 earthquake was felt in the Worland area Thursday evening, April 4, 2002. The earthquake, which occurred at 6:18 p.m., was located approximately 10 miles southwest of the town of Worland. The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center located the earthquake after being notified by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) that Washakie County Emergency Management reported ground shaking. Apparently, no damage was associated with the event.

No historical earthquakes have ever been reported in western and southwestern Washakie County, according to Jim Case at the WSGS. The historical record is fairly short in many parts of Wyoming, and as a result cannot be accurately used to predict where earthquakes may or may not occur in the future. The WSGS believes that earthquakes can occur anywhere in the State, a fact that is supported by this event. For more information on earthquakes in Wyoming, visit the WSGS earthquake web site at: http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsgs/hazards/quakes/quake.html

For more information on this topic please contact:
Jim Case, jcase@uwyo.edu
Phone: 307 766-2286 x225

Sales: (307)766-2286 x224
Fax: (307)766-2605
Email: sales-wsgs@uwyo.edu

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