Prom
Backed by
A moderate earthquake was felt in the Reno and Lake Tahoe area. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the initial calculations suggested the quake had a magnitude of 5.8.
Intensity of shaking
Written by Jill Cowan and Thomas Fuller
People living in Northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area were shaken up by an earthquake that happened on Monday afternoon near Reno, Nevada. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.8.
There were no immediate reports of significant damage caused by the earthquake. The quake occurred around 3 p.m. and was located approximately 14 miles north-northeast of Yerington, Nevada, a small town with a population of around 3,000 people. Following the earthquake, there were over 10 aftershocks recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Nick Beaton, the director of development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley in Yerington, mentioned that children at the center did a drill where they went under their desks as a safety measure, but nothing actually fell over during the exercise.
Mr. Beaton described feeling like the ground was moving in waves during the earthquake, causing him to feel like the ground was rolling beneath him while he was on his hands and knees.
Brian Garland, the manager of a Trader Joe’s grocery store in Carson City, Nevada, described the earthquake as a slight rumble that was not strong enough to cause any damage, but noticeable enough to be recognized.
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, questioning whether they all experienced the same thing or if it was just a collective case of dizziness. Mr. Garland chuckled as he recounted the moment.
According to experts, the earthquake happened when there was a higher chance of seismic activity in the area, following a long period of minimal activity. However, this does not mean that there is a greater risk of a more severe, devastating earthquake occurring.
Last week, there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California that caused minimal damage. However, it triggered a tsunami warning that impacted five million individuals.
Experts who study earthquakes have been saying for a while now that a major earthquake, similar to the one that occurred in 1906, could strike the region at any moment. They advise people to get ready by gathering emergency supplies and practicing safety drills like "drop, cover, and hold on" with their kids.
It has been 30 years since a major earthquake hit the area.
In 1989, a powerful earthquake known as the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Mountains in California with a magnitude of 6.9. This natural disaster resulted in the deaths of 63 individuals and left over 3,700 people injured.
In 1994, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the Northridge area of Los Angeles, resulting in the deaths of 60 individuals, injuries to around 7,000 people, and damage to over 40,000 structures. The disaster also exposed a significant flaw in certain steel-frame buildings, particularly high-rise structures, which were at risk of collapsing during intense shaking.
Reporting for this article was provided by Alex Hoeft and Shawn Hubler.
Jill Cowan is a journalist for The Times who is located in Los Angeles. She reports on the influences that impact daily life in Southern California and across the state. To learn more about Jill Cowan, click here.
Thomas Fuller is a journalist at The Times who is responsible for writing and editing articles that appear on the front page. To learn more about Thomas Fuller, visit his profile on The Times website.
Prom
Index of Pages
Navigation for Site Information