WSSPC Awards in Excellence 2002

Award Recipients

Awarded Category: Educational Outreach to General Public

Program Name Earthquakes in Wyoming video

Administering Agency
University of Wyoming Television and 
Wyoming State Geological Survey

Contact Person (Name/Title) James C. Case, Staff Geologist - Geo Hazards, Wyoming State Geological Survey and Tony Pedersen, University of Wyoming TV

Address P.O. Box 3008, Laramie, WY  82071-2605 (James Case)
PO Box 3984, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 (Tony Pedersen)

Telephone Number 
(307) 766-2286 (Case)
(307) 766-4998  (Pedersen)

Fax Number 
(307) 766-2605 (Case)
(307) 766-3445  (Pedersen)

This program was a collaborative effort between the Wyoming Geological Survey and a production of University Television, a division of the Outreach School. The program specifically was made for Wyoming Public Television. The initial showing on or about April 6, 2001 was the centerpiece of Wyoming Public Television's fund raising effort. It has been shown periodically since that time and will continue to be shown. The video tape is available to schools, businesses, government and can be provided to the public and is available through all Wyoming County libraries. In addition to airing on Wyoming Public Television, parts of the video have been used in a KTWO three-part series on earthquakes, resulting in many inquiries coming to the Wyoming State Geological Survey. It is and will be used as educational outreach for a number of years to come.

In 1959, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook the area West of Yellowstone and killed 28 people. The quake created the Madison Canyon landslide which seriously hampered rescue efforts. The landslide dammed the Madison River and formed Earthquake Lake. The Hebgen Lake, Montana earthquake is now used as a model for earthquakes that may happen in Western Wyoming. The "Earthquakes in Wyoming" video addresses the questions of earthquake potential, location of high hazard - high risk areas and mitigation of earthquake impact in Wyoming.