Fernley was rattled again Sunday morning as the ground kept rumbling in Lyon County, Nevada, after a new wave of earthquakes struck Northern Nevada overnight. Several small quakes were felt in the same area southeast of town as last week’s earthquake, and the shaking was still being tracked as of 10:21 a.m. Sunday.
About 90 earthquakes were recorded from 11:07 p.m. Saturday, April 18, to 10:21 a.m. Sunday, with magnitudes ranging from 0.9 to 4.5. At 11 a.m. Sunday, Lyon County said there were no significant reports of damage, but emergency personnel were actively inspecting critical infrastructure.
The activity is part of the same ongoing seismic sequence that has kept Fernley on edge since last week, when the source area southeast of town first drew attention. With the shaking continuing, North Lyon Fire told residents to check for injuries and give first aid, call 911 for life-threatening emergencies, and look for structural damage before moving around.
The fire department also warned people to stay alert for falling debris, broken glass and unstable surfaces, and to evacuate carefully if a building is damaged, moving to a safe open area. It urged residents to watch for the smell of gas or hissing sounds, leave immediately and notify authorities if a leak is suspected, and be alert to damaged electrical wiring or sparks. Small fires should be extinguished only if it is safe to do so, the department said, adding that firefighters stand ready.
For Fernley and the rest of Lyon County, the immediate question is no longer whether the ground is still active. It is how long the sequence lasts and whether the next stronger shake arrives before the inspections are finished.