The ÁùºÏ±¦µä Seismological Laboratory reports a local magnitude 4.4 earthquake (moment magnitude Mw 4.3) located in a residential area of south Reno ÁùºÏ±¦µä. Location parameters: 39.4288 north latitude, -119.7886 west longitude, depth of 6 miles (9.6 km), at 10:46 p.m. PST, Dec. 22, 2015. There have been reports of minor damage. The initial event of the sequence was a magnitude 1.2 event at 10:18 p.m., followed by magnitude 3.2 (10:22 p.m.), 3.0 (10:36 p.m.) and 3.1 (10:45 p.m.) events prior to the magnitude 4.4. Another magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred at 11:05 p.m. These are the largest events of the sequence at this time.
As of 6:43 a.m. PST Dec. 23, 2015, the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Seismological Laboratory recorded a total of 32 events associated with this sequence of earthquakes.
The largest earthquakes and the magnitude 3 events were strongly felt in the south Reno area. There is a slight increase in the probability of a larger event (larger than the magnitude 4.4) during an ongoing sequence of earthquakes such as this one. The ÁùºÏ±¦µä Seismological Laboratory continues to closely monitor the activity in south Reno.
"I like to remind everyone that it is always appropriate to make a plan for what to do during a disaster, in this case: secure your home before; drop, cover, hold on during; and assess damage after," Aaron Kenneston, with Washoe County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program, said. "Assemble a kit with at least 72 hours of water, food, first aid supplies, flashlight and battery-powered radio in case of utility disruption, and stay informed about our earthquake risks."
The ÁùºÏ±¦µä Seismological Laboratory, a public service department at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno, is a member of the USGS Advanced National Seismic System and operates a network of about 150 real-time seismograph stations throughout the region providing earthquake information to ÁùºÏ±¦µä citizens, the USGS and local and state officials.
