First of all, I thought when I moved from Northern California to Nevada, where nothing ever happens except for Vegas, where whatever happens there magically stays there anyway… I would completely leave the whole Bay Area earthquake thing behind. Turns out, Nevada is the number three state behind Alaska and California for earthquake activity, which means we even beat out Washington and Oregon, which, like, blows my mind because don’t they have live volcanoes?
So it turns out that every 25-50 years or so, there’s some major seismic event here in Nevada, as has been the case recently in Wells and with the Mogul earthquakes. I guess since Nevada’s population per square mile has historically been so low that no one ever cared what happens here, like installing nuclear waste dumps at Yucca Mountain, etc… Whatever, no one pays much attention to our seismic activity. But since February, we’ve been having an increasingly powerful series of quakes following a textbook pattern of statisical probability centered in Mogul, from one point something to five point zero.
The kicker, and what makes this series so unique from every other swarm of earthquakes in the world, is how shallow they have been. Apparently, most earthquakes originate from approximately 20 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. But the recent Mogul earthquakes are much shallower in origin… only about a mile beneath the Earth’s surface, which means they feel more jolty and intense than what we’re used to in California. But then again, they’re over so much more quickly. The shallowness, however, is apparently unprecedented, and geologists will be be discussing theories about what could possibly be causing such a shallow origination in upcoming conferences. (There’s nothing like having a UNR geologist living right on your block, with a bunch of really smart geologist friends!)
Meanwhile, I have cosmetic stress cracks on my walls, a few broken art pieces that fell down upstairs, and some other items that fell on the semi-shag carpet and survived quite nicely. (Apparently Somersett homes are routinely built to withstand earthquakes at 7.2, though originating at the usual 20 kilometers below the Earth’s surface. The more intense effects of shallower quakes are as yet unknown). I’ve secured my earthquake insurance (well worth the double premium and 10% deductable if you knew anybody who lost their homes in California quakes, and as long as quakes don’t exceed 5.0 there seems to be no moratorium on new polices). And my cat has been hiding under the bed for three days.
The good news is, our probability of a larger quake has been reduced from 80% to 60%… but the next three days will tell all.
Lynne B
Yeah these earthquakes are something. I had not heard that the probability of a larger quake had been reduced, last I heard it was somewhat increased. Personally I blame it all on Somersett.
Genex Cynic
Interesting post Diane, Here are some thoughts I’ve been having. Forgive the rant, and if you are a conservative (HAHA – war on terror, and most of you voted for him twice!) republican, please just skip my comment.
1) Every new stucco community starts by stripping earth, then building up 1-3 feet of new soil, compacting it before building. Can anyone say shake factor and liquefaction?
2) New structures while designed for earthquakes use materials like cheap stucco exterior surfaces that crack, warp and do not flex happily.
3) These communities were placed on well known faults, with little information revealed to the purchaser.
I am happy to live in an older southwest home where the foundation sits on VERY stable compacted and rocky soil. My home has been standing since the early sixties with no structural issues, with two by fours that actually measure 2×4! imagine that!
BEGIN RANT
Perhaps it is my cynical genex attitude, but I have a hard time thinking of new builders as nothing more than the executive at Exxon who takes the greatest profit possible while promoting shareholder wealth. When did building homes shift by and large from the esthetic, to divvying up land into the greatest financial windfall, sourcing products from China, and using the cheapest alternative material. After all if a buyer sees nice shag carpet who cares about a foundation? And what about complicit lenders who saw profits and neglected financial due diligence, not to mention the buyers – a subject often covered on this blog.
When will we as Americans wake up and get pissed off about what is happening to our country? I believe in a free market economy and global trade, but what happened to building homes opposed to commodities? Instead I’m stuck with three lousy presidential candidates who are beholden to the same special interest jerks that refuse to take any responsibility in the decline of America.
It’s time we all wake up, and realize we are a nation of people, and should put people first, NOT shareholder wealth.
Should an earthquake cause major material damage to these stucco communities in my gut I am certain that things were overlooked, greed beget common sense, and I hope you all sue the pants off of the builders who peddle this crap, that is if they aren’t already bankrupt.
END RANT
DERRICK
most people do not know or realize that almost all of reno is geothermically active, with parts holding molten lava below the water line.. as well as sitting on well over 30 fault lines..
DERRICK
genex cynic. I agree with your points, but like it or not every society is deserving of its government.
Wine Dog
I always think it’s unfair when earthquakes happen in areas not known for them. I’ve been getting the Nevada alerts and OMG y’all have been rockin’ and rollin’. We shouldn’t have 115 degree weather and you shouldn’t have earthquakes. It’s just the natural order of things. 🙂
You probably do have volcanoes and just don’t know about them. I remember years ago driving down the 101 in Ventura County (yeah Ventura Highway) I saw smoke billowing up out of the side of the mountain in Muscle Shoals. I stopped (because it was prior to cell phones) and called the fire department. The guy says “Are you out in Muscle Shoals by mile post marker 15.045?” Indeed I was. He says “We’ve been having a little volcanic activity out there, nothing to worry about.” Nothing to worry about? Blink blink.
Genex, somewhere along the line we got away from the origination of corporations. They serve the people, not the other way around. We had the beginning of a great conversation on the subject over on my site the other day. My brother is an attorney and went back and pulled some original cases. It was so good, I’m formulating the next rant on the subject in my head.
Phil Hoover
Reno’s earthquake problems were doubtless caused by greedy Realtors 🙂
Hang in there, Diane!
(Whole lotta shakin goin on . . . .)
NAS
Been watching your seismic activity. All kidding aside, hoping whatever is creating the problem will settle down. Been tracking the US Geo site and the area is much to busy for even this seasoned rock ‘n roll Californian!
Question about building codes in the area. I would be interested to find out what they are in regards to earthquake standards. I know in the SF Bay area, etc. a number of homes are retrofitted for earthquake safety. A friend of ours lives inthe Berkeley area and had his place done. I think the short version of what retrofitting does is prevents a house from sliding off the foundation, not to mention keeping the electrical, plumbing, and gas lines a bit more intact. All seems like a good idea to me.
Skrap Guy
This morning’s 4.2 has been located as being between Laurel Ridge Drive and Graysburg in Somersett.
How is this going to impact sales in Somersett?
Is this what is called an “incurable defect” in the real estate business?
NCBound
Skrap Guy- I was also wondering about sales in Somersett. Any realtors care to comment about how sellers and buyers are dealing with this?
Diane- Where did you hear about the risk of a large earthquake being reduced???
Perry
I have to disagree with an earlier post that newer homes are worse than older ones. Building codes have made a difference. My wife and I lived in SW Reno near Belford Road and miss the area but not the house. Our house had floor joists that were 24″ on center which allowed for some bouncy floors. There was poor insulation. Our new house is 1000sq’ larger than our old house and our utility bill has gone down. I will be the first to admit that we live in an anonymous looking stucco house that is hardly distinguished from the neighbors.
In spite of this, it is fairly well made. It is bolted to the foundation with over 100 fasteners, it has about 20 earthquake straps again securing it to the foundation. It also has several interior sheer walls to keep the house from rotating during the side to side motion of an earthquake. Lastly, not all new homes are built on fill. I know this was done is some parts of Double Diamond in an attempt to mitigate the high clay content of the soil. I watched our home being built. The land was scraped to grade on which the footing was poured and then the stem wall. When complete the area surrounding the home was back filled. The folks at the UNR seismo have a good page regarding the characteristics of a well designed earthquake resistant home. http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ep/nvguide/ep7.html
I’d like to comment about the contempt that so many people have for stucco homes. I know that they’re not the greatest to look at and contribute to the urban sprawl that is so prolific in our area. However, people have to live somewhere and there aren’t a lot of widely available alternatives. Most can not afford the cost to custom build a home nor want the hassle. If everyone wanted to live in SW Reno there still isn’t enough to go around. I bet there were people in the 1950’s complaining about all the new ranch style brick houses being built “way out” in west Reno along Mayberry and Hunter Lake. Were they the “stucco” home of the day?
Diane Cohn
Genex Cynic, no harm done!
Wine Dog, maybe we do have volcanoes down there that nobody knows about. I mean, unless you drill down there, how can anyone know?
Phil, yeah, it’s all our fault. 😉
NAS, not sure the citywide standard, but in Somersett they’re built to withstand 7.2.
Skrap Guy, not sure what this will do for sales, will have to see. And I guess it’d only be incurable if it never stops. Historically these seismic events eventually pass.
NCBound, that was a short term prediction by my geologist neighbor. Once a series of earthquakes begins, I guess they can make fairly accurate guesses as to whether the quakes will get stronger or weaker, all based on probability, statistics, and historical data. The quakes did diminish to the point of insignificance for a few days, but now it seems like a new series has begun, though so far not as powerful as the one before. Guess I’ll hold off on patching the plaster…
SkrapGuy
I was referring to the fact a house is built on top of a fault line as being the incurable defect. So what about disclosures to future buyers now? Will a seller of a house that has had earthquake damage have to disclose that to a potential buyer?
longerwalk
SkrapGuy: A very good question about incurable defect and/or full disclosure/damage. A follow on question: What about other disasters, like fire? Or, for the squeamish, deaths?
Diane Cohn
Skrap Guy, if I learn that my house is indeed sitting on top of a fault line, then yes, that would be an incurable defect that I would need to disclose to future buyers. And if a seller has had earthquake damage, they would need to disclose that along with anything they did to remediate the situation.
longerwalk, if you are squeamish about potential deaths in a property, then you should always proactively ask the other side if they know of any. They are required to answer truthfully.
doofus
The Mogul/Diane’s house fault has not been identified on any USGS mapping. Earthquake damage may need to be disclosed. What I’ve seen in Montreaux is a 20′ easement from a known fault lines, but no fault has been identified in Somersett yet. So no requirement to discouse unless there has been signigicant and observable damage.
Local rumor has it that the orinigal owner of my home blew her brains out in my bedroom when her cancer recurred. The next owner died within a year, though it isn’t clear if the actual death was on site or in the hospitsl. All of which would be dislosed in Califoria, but not in NV.
NCBound
I heard from what seems to be a reliable source that a home in Somersett was “condemned” due to damage to the foundation from the earthquakes. Anybody know anything about this? Is the damage going to be greater than initially thought?