A Real Account: The 2020 Magna Earthquake

Harvest Right's manufacturing facility sits in Salt Lake City, Utah, with our headquarters in North Salt Lake — about 10 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport.

What Happened

On March 18, 2020, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck with its epicenter just 20 miles from our facilities — the largest earthquake in Utah in 28 years, and the closest one to Salt Lake City on record at the time. In our own warehouse, floor-to-ceiling shelving units swayed back and forth as the ground shook. We were fortunate: damage was minimal, and there were no injuries.

Why "You Never Know" Is the Real Point

Earthquakes happen without warning — there's no forecast, no advance notice, just the ground moving. Every U.S. state and territory carries some level of earthquake risk, even places that don't think of themselves as earthquake-prone. That unpredictability is exactly why food storage matters: you can't plan around when an earthquake will happen, only around being ready before one does.

What Makes Freeze-Dried Food a Good Fit for Earthquake Prep

Freeze-dried food holds onto its nutrients, color, and shape far better than most shelf-stable alternatives, and it's ready to eat again with nothing more than water. Just as importantly for earthquake scenarios specifically: it's packaged in flexible, sealed bags rather than glass jars or cans that can shatter or dent when shelves and cabinets shake.

More on Earthquake-Specific Food Prep

The best food for an earthquake goes deeper into building an earthquake-ready food supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can earthquakes be predicted in advance?
No — earthquakes strike without warning, which is part of why having food and supplies ready ahead of time matters more than trying to anticipate when one will happen.

Is freeze-dried food a good choice for earthquake preparedness?
Yes — it's shelf-stable without refrigeration, retains its nutrition and quality well, and is typically packaged in flexible bags rather than breakable glass or cans, which matters when shelves and cabinets are shaking.

Are all U.S. states at risk of earthquakes?
Every U.S. state and territory carries some level of earthquake risk, though the likelihood and severity vary significantly by region.