BOISE — Idaho is one of the most active states in terms in earthquakes each year according to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management. In fact two of the largest historic earthquakes in the continental U.S. occurred in the gem state in 1983 and 1959 according to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management.
Federal, state, and local agencies are working together to exercise their plan in case of an emergency here in Idaho. In this case, an earthquake.
"Truly in a catastrophic event here in Idaho, a 7.0 earthquake, how do we all respond? How do we all work through the initial chaos to come together to save lives and protect the citizens of Idaho," said Mike O'Hare, FEMA Region 10 Administrator.
Agencies including FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service, the Bureau of Reclamation among others are all participating in this three day disaster scenario at Gowen Field.
"You know these are really things that you don't want to think about, but you absolutely have to," said Governor Brad Little.
Although this disaster is simulated, Governor Little knows an earthquake in the gem state is a real possibility.
"I was in Emmett and I remember I had gone home which I usually didn't do in the morning and I remember the light fixture in the house swinging in 1983...It's just like any business, any sport, you drill, drill, drill for whatever the scenario is, but these are big wild things you know. You know the consequences of an earthquake and what it does to water supply and what it does to power, what it does to the infrastructure," said Little.
