New York City rattled by magnitude 4.8 earthquake as residents brace for aftershocks
An earthquake shook the densely populated New York City metropolitan area Friday morning, the US Geological Survey said, with rumbling felt across the whole of the Eastern Seaboard by residents.
The agency reported a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centred near Lebanon, New Jersey. Shaking was felt as far away as Boston and Delaware.
The Fire Department of New York said there were no initial reports of damage.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted: “A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York.
“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.”
A ground stop was ordered at JFK, Newark, and Baltimore airports.
The New York City mayor’s office messaged residents with information about what to do in an aftershock but many were mystified by an emergency alert coming through on cell phones thirty minutes after the ground stopped shaking.
Key points
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake strikes greater New York City area
New York governor’s team are ‘assessing impacts'
What to do in case of an aftershock
Magnitude 4.7 earthquake strikes greater New York City area
15:47 , Oliver O'Connell
An estimated 4.7-magnitude earthquake shook parts of New Jersey on Friday morning, sending smaller shakes throughout the great New York City area.
Around 10.30am the United States Geological Survey reported a small earthquake occurred near Whitehouse Station in New Jersey.
This is a breaking news story, more follows…
New York governor’s team ‘assessing impacts'
15:48 , Oliver O'Connell
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York.
My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 5, 2024
15:49 , Oliver O'Connell
Notable quake, preliminary info: M 4.8 - 7 km N of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey https://t.co/DuTYZ1kb4X
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 5, 2024
NYC to send out cell phone alert
15:52 , Oliver O'Connell
For awareness, @nycemergencymgt will be sending out a wireless emergency message to all cell phones in the area shortly. https://t.co/HfAscjU0I5
— Fabien Levy (@Fabien_Levy) April 5, 2024
Relax, everyone... the Empire State Building is fine
15:52 , Oliver O'Connell
I AM FINE
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 5, 2024
Watch: ‘MLB Central’ reacts to quake during live broadcast
15:57 , Oliver O'Connell
"Are we having an earthquake? Seriously. Are we having an earthquake? ... Hey, we're finally going to end up on Awful Announcing!"
— "MLB Central" reacts live to a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hitting the greater New York area pic.twitter.com/nJUq4DbQeh— The Recount (@therecount) April 5, 2024
NYC Mayor ‘being briefed'
16:02 , Oliver O'Connell
New York City just felt the impacts of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter of Lebanon, New Jersey. @NYCMayor is being briefed. While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact.
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) April 5, 2024
What to do in case of an aftershock
16:10 , Oliver O'Connell
The New York City Mayor’s Office has advised residents of what to do in case of an aftershock: “In case of an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and take additional cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway.”
In case of an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and take additional cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway.
We will be updating the public very soon with additional updates.— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) April 5, 2024
Watch: Quake interrupts UN Security Council briefing on Gaza
16:12 , Oliver O'Connell
“You’re making the ground shake!”
#BREAKING: “You’re making the ground shake!” UN Security Council hears as mid-morning #earthquake interrupts briefing on the situation in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/1F8TZBHKKu
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) April 5, 2024
Ground stop ordered for JFK and Newark airports
16:17 , Oliver O'Connell
Departures are grounded at both JFK and Newark airports following the 4.8 earthquake in the New York City region, as well as at Baltimore’s Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The ground shook at around 10.20am with the epicentre near Lebanon, New Jersey approximately 40 miles west of Manhattan.
Air Traffic Control at both airports is moving to alternate facilities and ground crews are inspecting the runways, Air Live reports.
BREAKING: JFK International Airport in New York City, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are all on a ground stop while runways are inspected for damage.
— NYScanner (@nyscanner) April 5, 2024
'Your weird day just got a bit weirder here in the Northeast’
16:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Here’s how Fox News reacted to the 4.8 magnitude in New York City:
Fox News reacts to a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hitting the greater New York area.
"Your weird day just got a bit weirder here in the Northeast." pic.twitter.com/itn00iB4ld— The Recount (@therecount) April 5, 2024
Watch: New York emergency alert goes off during recording of The View
16:31 , Oliver O'Connell
earthquake in New York pic.twitter.com/d5wvJqeZSO
— Come Thru Queen (@ComeThruQueen) April 5, 2024
Biden briefed on earthquake
16:40 , Oliver O'Connell
The White House press office sent the following update following this morning’s earthquake:
The President has been briefed on the earthquake, which had an epicenter in New Jersey, and he is in touch with his team who are monitoring potential impacts. The White House is in touch with federal, state, and local officials as we learn more.
Delays on New Jersey Transit due to bridge inspections
16:41 , Oliver O'Connell
Rail service system-wide is subject to up to 20-minute delays in both directions due to bridge inspections following an earlier earthquake.
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) April 5, 2024
Schumer: ‘Follow state and local guidance'
16:45 , Oliver O'Connell
New York Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted: “I’m closely monitoring the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that was just felt across New York State and the region. Please follow state and local guidance. I urge USGS and FEMA to work together, and I stand ready to mobilize any federal support needed.”
I’m closely monitoring the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that was just felt across New York State and the region. Please follow state and local guidance. I urge USGS and FEMA to work together, and I stand ready to mobilize any federal support needed.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 5, 2024
New York Governor Kathy Hochul will soon be making a statement.
Where was the earthquake felt?
16:52 , AP
In midtown Manhattan, the usual cacophony of traffic grew louder as motorists blared their horns on momentarily shuddering streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a booming sound and their building shaking. In an apartment house in Manhattan’s East Village, a resident from more earthquake-prone California calmed nervous neighbours.
People in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut and other areas of the Northeast reported shaking. Tremors lasting for several seconds were felt over 200 miles away near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.
NYC Mayor: No reports of ‘major life safety or infrastructure issues’ as inspections continue
17:06 , Oliver O'Connell
In case of aftershocks: get down on the floor, cover your head and neck, and take additional cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 5, 2024
What did New Yorkers feel when the shaking happened?
17:15 , AP
In New York City’s Astoria neighborhood, Cassondra Kurtz was giving her 14-year-old Chihuahua, Chiki, a cocoa-butter rubdown for her dry skin. Kurtz was recording the moment on video, as an everyday memory of the dog’s older years, when her apartment started shaking hard enough that a 9-foot-tall (2.7-meter-tall) mirror banged audibly against a wall.
Kurtz assumed at first it was a big truck going by. The video captured her looking around, perplexed. Chiki, however, “was completely unbothered.”
Attorney Finn Dusenbery was in a law office in midtown Manhattan. “The building shook and I thought that the ceiling above me was going to collapse,” Dusenbery said. “I did think that maybe the building was going to fall down for a second, and I wanted to get out of the building when I felt that.”
At a coffee shop in lower Manhattan, customers buzzed over the unexpected earthquake, which rattled dishware and shook the concrete counter. “I noticed the door trembling on its frame,” said India Hays, a barista. “I thought surely there couldn’t be an earthquake here.”
Solomon Byron was sitting on a park bench in Manhattan’s East Village when he felt an unfamiliar rumble. “I felt this vibration, and I was just like, where is that vibration coming from,” Byron said. “There’s no trains nowhere close by here or anything like that.” Byron said he didn’t realize there had been an earthquake until he got the alert on his cellphone.
What to do in an earthquake
17:30 , Oliver O'Connell
In a tweet late morning, the USGS reminded everyone what to do in an earthquake — be ready next time!
We hope everyone is safe and if you felt shaking, you took a protective action like Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Learn more about how to protect yourself here: https://t.co/4stmhIbABu pic.twitter.com/6zuws3QUXd
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 5, 2024
When was New York City’s last earthquake?
17:45 , Oliver O'Connell
New York City is not necessarily thought of as a place which experiences earthquakes, but they are not especially rare.
Dan Gooding looks at the history of tremors in the Tri-state Area...
When was New York City’s last earthquake? History of tremors as 4.8 quake hits city
NYC Mayor: Earthquakes unusual in New York, residents ‘should go about their normal day'
17:56 , Oliver O'Connell
Mayor Eric Adams said earthquakes are unusual in New York City but still could be “extremely traumatic” for some people.
He urged New Yorkers to be aware that aftershocks might happen, though the probability was “low” an emergency services official added.
The mayor said: “New Yorkers should go about their normal day.”
There had to be a Trump angle...
18:04 , Oliver O'Connell
The epicentre of today’s earthquake was... Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
I kid you not.
Wait so you’re telling me the epicenter of the New York City earthquake was…Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster?? pic.twitter.com/uH5uBTnfc6
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) April 5, 2024
How safe are New York’s buildings in an earthquake?
18:10 , Oliver O'Connell
Well, it’s not great news...
Per The New York Times:
New York City added earthquake safety provisions to its building code in 1995, but most of the city’s roughly one million buildings were built before then. Many are considered “vulnerable” to earthquakes, according to the city.
Watch: Earthcam captures moment quake strikes New York
18:27 , Oliver O'Connell
EarthCam captured the moment a 4.8-magnitude earthquake recorded in New Jersey shook residents in surrounding states and New York City on Friday morning. The earthquake was the strongest in NJ since 1884. pic.twitter.com/cKXmXqmxtW
— EarthCam (@EarthCam) April 5, 2024
Did you feel the quake?
18:38 , Oliver O'Connell
If you felt the earthquake this morning, the United States Geological Survey asks that you fill out their questionnaire:
The @USGS asks that anyone who experienced the 4.7M earthquake out of Southern NJ this morning fill out their survey:https://t.co/q9FVUl8CzB
— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) April 5, 2024
Welcome to New York
18:56 , Oliver O'Connell
Train just stopped in the middle of a tunnel and sat for a second. Somebody said “There was an earthquake.” Nobody said anything for a second as the train kept sitting and a guy goes “Man, fuck this. I’m late for work.”
— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) April 5, 2024
New Yorkers react to earthquake... did they feel it?
19:35 , Oliver O'Connell
Flashback: 2011’s East Coast quake
19:45 , Oliver O'Connell
New York was last rattled by a relatively major earthquake in August of 2011 when the 5.8-magnitude quake struck Virginia, causing damage in Washington, DC and swaying skyscrapers in Manhattan.
Read The Independent’s report from that day
A history of New York City tremors as 4.8 quake rattles buildings across the city
20:00 , Oliver O'Connell
New York City is not necessarily thought of as a place which experiences earthquakes, but they are not especially rare.
Dan Gooding takes a look at the earthquakes that have rocked the Tri-state area.
When was New York City’s last earthquake? History of tremors as 4.8 quake hits city
Watch: New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s briefing on this morning’s earthquake
20:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Join us now at @nycemergencymgt Headquarters in Brooklyn for a briefing on the earthquake felt in New York City this morning. https://t.co/dkznKrVkvE
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 5, 2024
Only in New York?
20:21 , Oliver O'Connell
Whoever printed these t-shirts may have been faster than whoever is in charge of the emergency alerts...
this is the fastest merch turnaround I've ever seen in my life pic.twitter.com/Y06Pl36g58
— america's lounge singer (@KrangTNelson) April 5, 2024
Marjorie says it’s time for America to repent
20:30 , Oliver O'Connell
God is sending America strong signs to tell us to repent.
Earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come.
I pray that our country listens. 🙏— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) April 5, 2024
Seriously.
And watch out for those space lasers... ð
Today quake was almost a record-breaker for New Jersey
20:45 , Oliver O'Connell
At a magnitude of 4.8 this morning earthquake was almost a record-breaker for the state of New Jersey. It didn’t top the current record=holder which was a 1783 event that registered a magnitude of 5.3.
Our @NJGov State Geologist reports that the 4.8 earthquake at 10:23a this morning was near record-breaking for the Garden State. The 1783 quake in Rockaway Twp still holds the record at 5.3.
Learn about the @NewJerseyDEP Geological & Water Survey here: https://t.co/TXAvm3x8MT pic.twitter.com/iMMCvDRLZq— Shawn LaTourette (@shawnlatur) April 5, 2024
The best memes and reactions to the New York City earthquake
21:15 , Oliver O'Connell
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook the greater New York City area on Friday morning. Unsurprisingly, New Yorkers responded in the most New York way — by making memes about it.
Following the surprise geological event, internet users immediately took to social media and similarly asked one very important question: “Did everyone in NYC feel that earthquake too?”
Meredith Clark rounds up the best memes from around the web:
The best memes and reactions to the New York City earthquake
Marjorie Taylor Greene says NYC earthquake is a ‘sign from God’
21:30 , Oliver O'Connell
And don’t get her started on the eclipse...
Marjorie Taylor Greene says NYC earthquake is a ‘sign from God’ to repent
What to do to stay safe during an earthquake
21:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Noticeable earthquakes, like the one on Friday morning, are rare in the New York City area. Ones that can be felt may be perceived as more dangerous, though local officials said there were no signs of damage or injuries. New York City’s Emergency Management asked people not to call 911 unless they were in danger.
In the event of future earthquakes taking place throughout the world, here are some general safety tips.
Brittany Miller has the details...
How to stay safe during an earthquake
22:06 , Oliver O'Connell
‘I was in the shower’: New Yorkers react to earthquake
22:15 , Oliver O'Connell
