A month after the magnitude 6.0 earthquake, the residents of Wells are still cleaning up. They still feel two or three aftershocks a day. The brick chimneys that laid in shambles after the quake have now be cleared off rooftops and a chain link fences has been erected around Front Street, which was the hardest hit by the earthquake. The Wells Chamber of Commerce has voted to retain a heritage are in the city and has asked those owners on Front Street to inform the council of what they plan to do. Although businesses are reopening, their normal flow of traffic is anything but normal. Officials are inspecting buildings for structural damage and hoards of volunteers are roaming the city picking up bricks and taking down facades. The city is working with the water company to video the underground water system and determine any damage. Other utilities’ and sprinkler systems cannot be checked until the frost melts.

The Wells Elementary School is busy as it has been forced to house kindergarten through 12th grade. The high school suffered massive damage and was forced to be closed. For the past month, the schools have been forced to cram into one school having both high school and elementary classes simultaneously. They don’t seem to mind, for example 2nd grader Marshall Botts, whose second grade class got dispelled into the hallway, says, “I like being in the hallway. It’s fun because we don’t have to sit in desks. I like to sit in chairs.” The big upcoming problem is finding a location for prom and graduation. While the details are still being worked out, they are hoping to make it a memorable event despite the unique situation.

Kobak, M. (2008, March 20). Wells Aftermath, Part 1: One Month Later, Town Still Shaking. Retrieved March 23, 2008, from Elko Daily Free Press: http://www.elkodaily.com/articles/2008/03/20/news/breaking_news/breaking10.txt

Kobak, M. (2008, March 21). Wells Aftermath, Part 2: Back to Grade School. Retrieved March 23, 2008, from Elko Daily Free Press: http://www.elkodaily.com/articles/2008/03/21/news/wells_news/wells7.txt

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The support the town of Wells has received has been tremendous. Residents assess the damage to their property and store owners tentatively survey their now decimated storms. The County of Elko has declared a state of emergency for Wells and the Red Cross is already responding to the situation. They have provided shelter, food, and any other assistance they can to the residents. Shelters have been set up at the local fire station and within hours of the quake, Red Cross volunteers and shelter supplies were en route to Wells. The Red Cross is also conducting a head count from the local fire station and asked residents to stop by and check in. Associated Foods also responded within hours by sending trucks full of food, bottled water, and other emergency supplies to the town. Wal-Mart also got in on the game by donating bottled water and fruit to assist families affected by the disaster.

6.3 Temblor Strikes Wells. (2008, February 21). Retrieved March 2008, 14, from The Ely Times: http://www.elynews.com/articles/2008/02/21/news/news001.txt

Following the earthquake, structural damage was reported throughout the town of Wells. It is speculated that every structure, residential or commercial, suffered substantial damage from the magnitude 6.0 tremor. The hardest hit was the unoccupied historic district, which lies in total ruin. In one location, the flying J truck stop, there was report of a propane leak and one injury from a cigarette rack falling on a woman. Reports of dishes and books falling from shelves and cupboards were common. Despite the intense quake, only three injuries were reported and nobody was reported missing. One fatality did occurred when a fish was flung from his bowl as a result of the quake. The power, water, and all other utilities are still functional following the quake. Reports from the power company say the transformers shifter six inches however they remained operational. Some locations in Wells did report some power outages.

The town of Wells was completely cordoned off following the quake. The Nevada State Police checked identification and only allowed local residents to enter the town via the highway off ramps. Motorists traveling through the area ran into problems as gas stations were closed off in the area and travelers were unable to fill up their tanks in Wells.

As if the main earthquake was not enough, the residents of Wells were treated to about 30 aftershocks, a few of which were substantial. Despite these aftershocks the emergency responders were hard at work. While firefighters from Wells and the surrounding area go around and assess damage, Associated Foods was in the process of sending a disaster team complete with trucks full of food, water, and emergency supplies for residents. Following such a severe natural disaster you would think there would be a lot of despair, but that is not the case with the residents of Wells. Mitch Smith sums up the residents’ feelings as, “It’s mother nature, what good would it be to get mad?”

Example of the damage, a car buried under the debris from the adjacent building.

McMurdo, D. (2008, February 21). Quake Rocks Wells: Magnitude 6.0 Temblor Causes Extensive Damage. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from the Elko Daily Free Press: 2008

Yes, there is a history of earthquakes in Nevada. Although the faults that this earthquake occurred on were not known for earthquakes, other parts of Nevada are. A large portion of Nevada lies in Basin and Range portion of the western United States. This geological feature is the result of a former subduction zone that was present along the West Coast long ago. This area has produced not only the largest quakes in Nevada, but in the United States. The map, from USGS website, shows that most of the recent earthquakes have been concentrated along the southern portions of the state where Nevada boarders California.

One of the more spectacular earthquakes was reported in 1865, the quake actually happened in 1852 however. The account in a local newspaper describes cracks opening that spouted water 100 feet high and large landslides occurring in the Pyramid Lake region. Others serious earthquakes include a series of three in a seven hour period, the largest at a 7.75 magnitude. These did serious damage to the surrounding area and were felt for an overall area of 1,295,000 square kilometers. Other serious earthquakes include a 7.3 in 1932, a 6.5 in 1934, a 7.1 in 1954, and a handful of others significant earthquakes. A University of Nevada study counts 586 magnitude 4.0 or greater over the last 160 years. Although the Wells Earthquake is severe; it is not uncommon for the area.

Magnitude 6.0 – Nevada. (2008, February 21). Retrieved March 24, 2008, from USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqinthenews/2008/us2008nsa9/#summary

According to the USGS, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northeast Nevada at 9:16 AM EST (6:16 AM Local). The earthquake, originally classified as a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, had a depth of approximately 4.2 miles and occurred approximately 6 miles ESE of Wells, Nevada. Because of the depth and the distribution of aftershocks, the responsible fault could not be determined and instead is attributed to a series of faults west of Wells Peak. The earthquake was felt far and wide. The intensity of the earthquake felt at each location varies and is measure on the Modified Mercalli Intensity rating system. This system rats the severity based on damage and human reaction on a scale ranging from I, which is not felt under even the most favorable circumstances, up to a XII, which is total destruction. Wells, Nevada was the hardest hit and they rated a VI; which is felt by all, frightened some, and slight damage. They were not the only one to feel this quake however. Reno, the capital, also felt this quake but they only rated at a II, which is felt by only a few people. Some 180 miles away, the earthquake intensity rated at a II in Salt Lake City, Utah. The earthquake was even reported to be felt as far as Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona as a I on the Mercalli Intensity scale. The attached map is from the USGS and displays the area over which the earthquake was felt according to the Mercalli Intensity rating. Wells is located in the northeast corner of Nevada, inside of the yellow colored region on the map.

Magnitude 6.0 – Nevada. (2008, February 21). Retrieved March 24, 2008, from USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqinthenews/2008/us2008nsa9/#summary

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