New York City Rattled by 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck New Jersey at 10:23 a.m. ET this morning. Tremors were felt throughout the state, New York City, Philadelphia, and as far south as Baltimore. So far, there have been no injuries reported. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that her team is currently conducting an assessment to check for damage.

The earthquake’s epicenter is believed to be in Lebanon, N.J., a city in the North-Central part of the state.

TIME has reached out to the United States Geological Survey for comment.

At a press conference, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul said that JFK and Newark airports have undergone full ground stops to ensure safety, as the potential for aftershocks is being assessed. The Amtrak and MTA have not seen any disruptions and as of now there have been no reports of damaged buildings.

Hochul urged New Yorkers to take precautionary measures in case of an aftershock. “Drop to the floor, cover your neck, and hold on to something that is sturdy,” she advised. “If you hear any shifting or any unusual noises, leave your home and go outside. You're safer there than in a building that could be crumbling around you.”

Hochul encouraged residents to also check their homes for damage, including their gas and water lines. So far, gas and electricity services appear unaffected, though there has reportedly been at least one gas leak recorded in Rockland county. An overloading of cell service was reported immediately in the aftermath of the event, but networks are now clear and should be operating as usual.

“These are emerging situations. It could be over, but also there could be another effect. We have to be prepared for that and warn New Yorkers to be particularly vigilant in the days following an earthquake,” said Hochul.

Are earthquakes becoming more frequent? 

Seismologist Angie Lux of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory tells TIME that the current level of seismic activity is consistent with what would be expected in the region. “Looking at sort of historical seismicity in the area, I would definitely say that there's no clear trend of more earthquakes that are happening.” 

Earthquakes are not as common in the Northeast as they are on the West Coast. However, earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains can often cause shaking at much further distances than earthquakes of similar magnitude on the West Coast. This is thought to be because rocks on the West Coast are younger and more broken up than rocks found along the East Coast, which means that they are able to absorb more of an earthquake’s seismic energy, according to an article in the United States Geological Survey. 

Lux says that large earthquakes are capable of happening anywhere across the mainland U.S. “The potential for really significant earthquakes is lower [on the East Coast] than we see in other places, but there's always a possibility of earthquakes if we look at the seismic hazard maps,” says Lux.
“There is potential for a big earthquake pretty much everywhere in the United States, so it doesn't hurt to have supplies on hand and to know what you do.”

Human activity can also impact the frequency of earthquakes. Practices like fracking and drilling have been shown to increase the seismic activity in places like Oklahoma and Texas, though there’s no evidence of such activity impacting the frequency of earthquakes in the New York area.

Nevertheless, the Northeast remains vulnerable since unlike California and other Western states, building codes in the East Coast are not designed with major earthquakes in mind and earthquake early warning systems are not in place. This is why East Coast residents did not receive text message alerts about the earthquake until after it had happened, says Lux. This is in contrast to earthquake early warning systems that exist in places such as California and Oregon, which can give residents a few seconds of advanced warning before a major earthquake hits. “It doesn't provide a lot of warning, but it can provide some warning to those people who are about to feel shaking closest to the epicenter,” says Lux.

Reactions to the earthquake from New York and New Jersey

TIME employees across New York City and New Jersey have shared their experiences of the earthquake.

“I live on the first floor of an old building in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and I truly thought that something was about to explode in the basement,” says Erin, who was working from home when the earthquake struck.

Meanwhile Chardia, who lives on the 23rd floor of a building in the Bronx, says she was on a virtual call with her team when the earthquake hit. “We all live in different parts of New York, and you could see the confusion across each face as the screens began to shake and the ‘Did y’all feel that’ messages came rushing through,” she says. “It's a surreal feeling of helplessness.”

In downtown Manhattan, Melody noticed the earthquake when she saw colleagues shaking on her computer screen during a weekly video call. “I thought my dog was stuck under the couch trying to rattle out or something because my couch and the floor moved,” she says. “I realized it was an earthquake and got worried she would be smooshed under the couch, but then I see[n] her calm as ever laying in her doggy bed, staring at me.”

California-raised Melody says that she remembered earthquake drills from her upbringing, telling her to stay inside, away from windows, and seek cover under hard objects. “Drop, cover and hold onto something,” she adds. 

Tameka —who lives in South Jersey—says her dog reacted before her, by running into her workspace area “seeming frantic and worried.” She says that “by the time I could respond to her, the shaking started. It was over before we made it to the nearest doorway in my apartment.”

Recent news coverage of the earthquake in Taiwan left Tameka feeling “mildly prepared” for Friday’s events. “Without such timely news of another earthquake, one hitting here would've been the farthest from my mind," she notes.