Utah agencies conduct disaster exercise for major earthquake response

The Civil Air Patrol Utah Wing teamed up with the Utah Army National Guard to complete a joint disaster response training exercise in Salt Lake City, KSL News reported. The exercise simulated an emergency response to a hypothetical 7.0-magnitude earthquake centered approximately 12 kilometers from the city. [1]

The joint operation, named Red Iguana, provided scenario-based training to prepare both agencies for potential natural disasters in the region, according to KSL News. The exercise aimed to evaluate emergency procedures, structural impact assessments, and agency coordination following a major seismic event. [1]

The Utah Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is headquartered in Salt Lake City and maintains more than 830 cadet and adult members across 14 locations in the state. The Utah National Guard holds dual federal and state missions and remains the only United States military force authorized to operate under state status. [2][3]

The exercise follows an actual 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck near Magna along the Wasatch Front in 2020, KSL News reported. Emergency agencies continue to refine joint operations to ensure rapid deployment during future earthquake scenarios. [1]