University of Idaho Helps County Prepare for Big Temblor

Central Idaho’s Blaine County is a big draw for tourists to its towns like Sun Valley and Ketchum, but what visitors may not realize is the region’s potential to be shaken by strong earthquakes.

To that end, University of Idaho geologists are descending on the region later this month – to identify areas that would be most damaged by a powerful temblor.

There’s new evidence of an active fault in the Sawtooth Mountain Range, less than 30 miles from Ketchum.

So between April 15 and April 20, geologists from the UI’s Idaho Geological Survey will conduct surveys in Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley.

Results from survey, to be funded partly by the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, will be provided to local emergency planners and county and city officials.