3.6 magnitude earthquake shakes Nevada

© KTNV.com

A minor earthquake shook the ground just south of Sloan and was felt in parts of the valley early Sunday morning.

The 3.6 magnitude earthquake happened at 3:11 a.m. about 22 miles south of Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Fire Department.

Although the quake was felt by many in the valley, according to fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski, there were no calls to the fire alarm office, which fields fire and medical emergency reports from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County.

The only event possibly related to the earthquake was a water main break in the 7700 block of South Jones Boulevard, near Robindale Road. No one was at the construction site at the time of the break, but a passerby noticed water coming from the lot. There was no damage and the water district was notified.

Nevada is the third most seismic state in the country, Szymanski said, and with earthquakes also occurring in California, residents should be prepared for an earthquake to occur at any time and without notice.

Some important steps to being prepared include: having a flashlight next to your bed - all three of the last earthquakes in Las Vegas happened at night - and having a disaster kit with three days of supplies including food and water.

In the case of an earthquake, Szymanski said, you should drop to the floor and take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a large table.

The last earthquake event felt in Las Vegas was on October 16, 1999 at about 2:45 a.m. The 7.1 magnitude quake originated at a marine base in Twentynine Palms, Calif. and caused "major shaking" in the valley, Szymanski said. Several people evacuated hotels on their own and there were a few ruptured water lines.