As scientists monitor our recent earthquakes, local and state officials plan possible responses and urge all of us to do the same on an individual level. All were represented at a briefing Tuesday afternoon at the University of Nevada.

The swarm of quakes that have left many unnerved began several weeks ago. Over time the swarm seems to be moving slightly eastward. Seismologists aren't sure why.
They also say the swarm has not only increased in intensity over time, but accelerated in frequency in recent days.

That trend seems to be ending, but University Seismologist John Anderson says, we should take no comfort from that fact. It's happened before during this swarm and earthquakes still defy prediction. But Anderson noted statistically Western Nevada can expect a big earthquake, something in the magnitude of 7.0 every 25 to 30 years. The last was in 1954. That doesn't mean, he says, that we're overdue. The next big one could be today, tomorrow, next month, next year or years in the future.

State and local officials say they spend a lot of time, all the time, being prepared for events like big earthquakes and they were encouraged by the response they saw, both from emergency personnel and residents , following February's earthquake in Wells.
Bottom line: We live in earthquake country and the wise will be prepared.

"The whole western United States is earthquake country," the governor said at the end of the briefing. "We need to learn how to be prepared if we're going to live in an earthquake environment."

The governor and others are directing residents to a booklet: "Living with earthquakes in Nevada". A number of copies were placed in fire stations in the Verdi, Mogul and Somersett areas.