Earthquakes

[Katie Palani]

I would say, from my experience on Reno Baby!, that we're a bunch of educated, interesting, knowledgeable people who should be asking and answering the "why" part of the earthquake question.

So, why are all these quakes happening now, and why doesn't the RGJ have anything to say about WHY they are happening ...

[Jackie Shelton]

This doesn't address the why, but I did hear an interview last week with a geologist. He was saying that it's good that all these "little" quakes are happening because the little burps are releasing pressure, which should (emphasis on "should") prevent a big one.

[Michael Higdon]

Katie, the RG-J isn't answering why because the seismologists don't know why either. If they knew why, they'd be able to predict them and save us a lot of headaches and broken dishes. The RG-J is probably just as freaked out as us, their building is pretty old.

You can check out a lot of information about the earthquakes on http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ and see the recent stuff on http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Maps/120-39.htm

According to these maps there've been almost 300 earthquakes in the last two months in Mogul and Somersett area. Hopefully Jackie is right. But according to seismologists and the San Francisco Chronicle we're way overdue for a 6.0 due to historical surveys. But way overdue means we're about 100 years late, so who knows what that means.

[LadyCub]

"But according to seismologists and the San Francisco Chronicle we're way overdue for a 6.0 due to historical surveys. But way overdue means we're about 100 years late, so who knows what that means."

My husband (Cygnus) and I plan to move to Reno because.......?

Seriously though...we can either deal with earthquakes or Occassional Tornado's, and Tropical Storms.

I called my Parents who live in Caughlin Ranch they have had some things fall over and my Mom said the house sounded like it was being hit by an eighteen wheeler. Shake, Rattle and Roll!

[Michael Higdon]

Hey LadyCub, these earthquakes aren't unusual for Nevada but the location and intensity is. I've lived in Nevada 22 years and this is my first time feeling them. Reno is great, don't let a little rock n roll discourage you. :)

[LadyCub]

Thanks Michael...fortunately Earthquakes won't stop us. I forgot to mention that we are coming from Frederick Maryland which is very prone to sink holes. One in fact opened up on Interstate 70 this past Thursday. Fortunately it was noticed before anyone was hurt. When we first moved to Frederick a sink hole opened up about a half mile from our house on the road in front of the grocery store were we shop. That one was even bigger and there was a van that just made it over the thing as it was opening. You could even see the scuffmarks from the bottom of her van as it hit the other side.
So we have a choice of being swallowed up by the earth or being shaken up by the earth. I think I'd rather stay above ground.

[Jackie Shelton]

That's a long haul. What's bringing you to beautiful Reno? Besides the lack of sinkholes? :)

[LadyCub]

Hi Jackie...My husband (then boyfriend) and I fell in love with the area when we visited my Parents after they moved there. They have been there since April of 1993 and love it! Every time I visit it feels more and more like home.
The practical side of the move is that my Parents are not getting any younger and I really don't want to be 2500 miles away when they need me. In fact my last trip there was the beginning of March when my Dad had surgery. He still has hurdles from that to get over for sometime to come. However, even before we knew he was going to have surgery we had already decided it was time to make our plans to get there.
We are planning to come even though the current Real Estate Market is going make selling our house here in Frederick a challenge. Of course I suspect buying a house there won't be as difficult. The prices of homes in Reno are pretty comparable to houses here in Frederick. When I was there for Dad's surgery my Mom and I did some looking at the quite a few of the new homes being built in the area and I liked what I saw. When my husband and I fly out in the next month or so we will look at existing homes on the market as well as new homes.

[Michael Higdon]

wow, what the hell is a sink hole and why does it eat people?

[LadyCub]

Mmm... Usually they open up when the water underground erodes enough of the ground to cause an underground cavern to open up or a big hole to form. The one this past Thursday closed two lanes of the highway and was 35ft deep. The other one was I think a little deeper maybe 45-50 ft deep and closed both lanes of that road for a couple of weeks. Frederick is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains (hills by Reno standards) and the water runoff flows underground as well as above ground. There are quite a few caves/caverns to be found in the general area.
Maybe 17yrs ago or so one opened up while someone in a pick-up truck was sitting at a stop sign. He unfortunatly was killed.
The fact that we have been cylcing over the past 5years or so between flood and drought conditions (at least what Maryland would consider a drought) apparently makes the problem worse, or so I've been told.
The local radio station here has re-written the words to The Beatles "A Day in the Life" to say "I read the news today oh boy....4,000 sink holes in Frederick Maryland....(you get the picture that is unless you are two young to remember the Beatles) Hey...did I just call myself old?
And that is your fun fact for the day (sort of) :-)

Talked to my Mom a couple of hours ago right after the last earthquake I thinks she was a bit nervous about it.

[Jackie Shelton]

Yes, I can see why you'd rather deal with a little rumbling now and then, rather than having your car sucked up by the ground. :) That would be a little nerve-wracking.

You'll love it here. Northern Nevada is a magical place - with amazing people, weather, places, and things to do. And it just keeps getting better because of the new people who are moving here and bringing their ideas with them. I've lived her my entire life and I'm still constantly amazed at how great it is. Welcome.

[Jackie Shelton]

I've felt two more so far this morning. Anyone else feeling this?

[Michael Higdon]

YAh, there was one at 11:40 and another one at 12:30 am.

I'm in Tahoe this weekend and I felt them, this is the first time we've felt them up here.

It's kinda freaky, there are a few fault lines down the street from me.