More than 100 small earthquakes shake Spanish Springs, Nevada

October 16, 2012 – NEVADA – Some rattling and rolling in the area has earthquake experts on alert. In the past week more than 100 small earthquakes have shaken the earth beneath Spanish Springs. So far they’ve been too small to feel, but quake experts want you to know they’re happening. There’s no reason to panic – but it’s a good reminder to make sure you’re prepared. “People can consider certain mitigation steps in case these earthquakes increase in intensity and there’s a larger one,” said Ken Smith, associate director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory. Smith says most injuries from earthquakes are caused by falling or flying objects – and you don’t want to wait for a big quake to get ready. “Secure your water heaters. Secure your valuables. Secure your book cases,” Smith said. It’s not strange for a dozen quakes this size to happen in a week, but there have been at least 115 since October 8, and about 60 of those have been since Thursday. “These things are totally unpredictable,” Smith said. “It could stop today, or it could keep going at a level of very small events that no one would feel.” Or they could get stronger. So far, they’re small – with the biggest two quakes shaking at magnitude one – but there’s potential for one that really rocks Reno. “We have faults around here that are capable of magnitude seven type events,” Smith said. So this week the Great Nevada Shakeout will teach people to drop, cover and hold-on just in case there’s a big quake. It’s Nevada’s largest earthquake drill and it’s this Thursday, October 18 at 10:18 am. –KRNV