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]

You understand that this is no longer secret, yes? ;)

Who do you shoot for?

[Michael Higdon]

The Nevada Sagebrush, UNR's paper. I don't do it often, I'm a back up. I primarily design the newspaper.

[Jackie Shelton]

Very cool. It's nice that you have such a beautiful place to shoot. :)

[Elisa Maser]

As for the why ... Nevada is one of the top five most active seismic states in the country. Alaska and Hawaii and California top the list .... not sure of the exact order. If you ever look at a seismic map of the state you'll see fault lines everywhere. Not a geologist - but that's how we got these mountains, no?

[Jackie Shelton]

But why now? I could swear I've never felt an earthquake here til now.

[Michael Higdon]

The seismologists said we get hundreds of earthquakes a month but because Nevada is so sparsely populated, people rarely feel them. But the places we've built cities - valleys large enough for expansion - are mostly formed by fault collisions/separations which are prime earthquake location. Ergo, the faults we've so gallantly chosen for major populations are all connected - some speculate are even connected to the Wells fault system - and so we're getting the brunt of all the earthquakes in a nasty chain reaction.

For example, Lake Tahoe was formed by three slip faults that are sheering and separating (thus causing a basin that can fill with water). Similarly the mountain between Reno and Mogul was formed the same way (I think).

On the plus side, engineers all know about this and thus, most of the buildings in Nevada - probably not houses so much - are earthquake resistant. Many buildings at UNR have "earthquake shocks" built in their foundations and use flexible concrete.

So, we'll see how it goes.

[Jackie Shelton]

So it's like why the bears are "all of a sudden" coming into residential areas to forage. Because we put the residential areas in their kitchens.

[Nico]

Or more like "If a tree falls, and you're not there to hear it, does it still make noise?".

[Wolfy]

I have thought about it a lot and have two theories on why the earthquakes are happening now.

1) God Hates Reno and we haven't learned our lesson yet.

2) The recent up swing in social media and online communities in reno has prompted Ma' Nature to give us something to talk about.

-M

[Jackie Shelton]

I'm sticking with my theory that there's a giant monster (think Godzilla) slumbering beneath Mogul. The recent effects of global warming are disturbing its sleep and it's climbing its way out. It's buried pretty deep though, so this could take awhile.

[Wolfy]

"Among other things, scientists urged residents to stock up on water and food, to learn how to turn off water and gas, and to strap down bookshelves, televisions and computers."

According to an article from cnn.com.

Stick frame houses will crack and shift, but they won't collapse and crush you.

-M

[Wolfy]

that is unless your house was built by Lakemont homes.

What I want to know is what is the cost of WIND damage this year?

-M