February 21, 2008 Earthquake: Wells, Nevada, United States

Three people injured, more than 20 buildings heavily damaged, almost 700 buildings slightly damaged and a water main broken at Wells. Felt (VI) at Wells, with maximum intensity VIII in the Historic District. Felt (V) at Jackpot; (IV) at Battle Mountain, Carlin, Elko, Mountain City and Spring Creek; (III) at Ely, Eureka, Golconda, Lovelock and Winnemucca. The earthquake was felt in most of Idaho and Nevada, in southeastern Oregon and northwestern Utah, in parts of California and Wyoming, and at Spokane, Washington. Isolated felt reports were received from as far away as Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Oakland and Pasadena, California; Brighton, Colorado; Absarokee and Livingston, Montana; Corvallis and Portland, Oregon; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. (reference #1053)

The earthquake caused minor damage to over 40, and major damage to 17 commercial and government buildings, along with damage to over 60 chimneys and widespread nonstructural damage, such as windows, drywall, furniture, and building contents for a total estimated damage of $10.5 million. (reference #13961)

Three houses were destroyed by the earthquake (out of ~450 houses in the Wells community) and more than 60 chimneys were damaged (approximately 10% to 15% of the total number of chimneys; dePolo (b), this volume). Over half of about 80 commercial and government buildings were damaged, with major damage to 17 of these buildings. Four buildings were totally or partly collapsed. Numerous buildings had damaged or fallen parapets and upper parts of walls, and nearly all had cracked exterior and interior walls from the shaking (dePolo (c), this volume) (reference #13961)

The 2008 Wells earthquake cost the community of Wells more than $10.571 million (dePolo (d), this volume). This can be further broken down into (1) emergency response costs $300,000, (2) direct damage costs >$7,889,000, (3) nonstructural damage costs >$496,000, (4) content loss cost estimate $275,000, (5) revenue losses and recovery costs $376,000, and (6) other indirect cost estimates >$1,746,000. The amount of relief, earthquake insurance coverage, and disaster funding and loans totaled $6,689,000, $4,835,000 of which was paid out by earthquake insurance. The cost of the earthquake minus the relief, insurance, and disaster funding leaves >$3.9 million of uncompensated loss to the community (reference #13962)