7.0: The Day the Valley Fell

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake ruptures Wasatch Fault. Within seconds, everything changes. For one Utah family, survival becomes a race against time, uncertainty, and the limits of everything they thought they could depend on.

7.0: The Day the Valley Fell

The Wasatch Fault ruptures beneath Utah's Salt Lake Valley. In seconds, the world the McFerrin family knows is gone.

Easton is working in a downtown Salt Lake office tower, twenty-four floors above the streets. His wife, Josie, is home with their eighteen-month-old son at the south end of the valley, and two children are in different schools when the earthquake strikes. 

As buildings crumble, roads collapse, and communication networks fail, the family is scattered across a valley transformed by disaster. Hospitals are overwhelmed. Water and electricity are no longer guaranteed. And the distance between those who love each other becomes a desperate fight against time, uncertainty, and the harsh realities of survival.

Separated and facing dangers they never imagined, the McFerrins must find a way to endure—and find their way back to one another.

Based on scientific research into the potential consequences of a major Wasatch Fault earthquake, 7.0: The Day the Valley Fell brings the reality of a catastrophic disaster to life through the eyes of one family.

Because when the ground stops shaking, the real fight for survival is only beginning.

What makes 7.0 different?

A Story Grounded in Real Science

What would a major earthquake in the Salt Lake Valley actually look like? 7.0: The Day the Valley Fell brings that question to life through extensive research into the Wasatch Fault and the potential consequences of a major earthquake along the Salt Lake City segment. Drawing on scientific earthquake scenarios, seismic research, infrastructure studies, and interviews with local experts, the story explores how a magnitude 7.0 earthquake could affect the places, systems, and communities we depend on every day. From damaged roads and failing utilities to overwhelmed hospitals, disrupted communication, and the struggle to find basic necessities, the details are rooted in real research rather than Hollywood disaster fiction. While the characters and events are fictional, the circumstances they face are grounded in the best available understanding of what a major earthquake could mean for the Salt Lake Valley.

Meet the author

Carlissa P. Larsen is a Utah-based author, and preparedness enthusiast with a passion for helping others build resilience and self-reliance. A graduate of Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in Geography, she has spent years studying emergency preparedness, teaching self-reliance, and serving others through humanitarian work with refugees.

Her interest in understanding the real-world consequences of a major Wasatch Fault earthquake inspired 7.0: The Day the Valley Fell. After discovering the fascinating but often overwhelming science behind earthquake scenarios, Carlissa set out to bring that knowledge to life through the experiences of fictional characters, helping readers understand not only what could happen, but why preparedness matters.

Through her business, Ready & Prepped, she continues to make preparedness practical and accessible for everyday families. When she's not researching or writing, she can often be found in the garden, tending her chickens, raising her family, or finding new ways to live more self-sufficiently.

Updates

The manuscript is currently in the hands of beta readers. Revisions will be made through December and the manuscript will be submitted to the editor in January 2027.