The New York City area was shaken by an earthquake just after 10 a.m. on Friday, and many New Yorkers’ reactions to it were captured–in this era where every event is likely to be caught on someone’s smartphone camera.
The earthquake was centered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey;
The quake hit Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and registered at a magnitude 4.8. The USGS originally reported that the epicenter was in Lebanon, New Jersey. Shaking was felt throughout the region, including New York state, Connecticut and Pennsylvania and as far away as Maine.
The USGS said that although it was uncommon, an earthquake of this magnitude isn’t unexpected in New Jersey. It was the strongest quake in the area since 1950.
It, along with its aftershock, made the record books, it appears, coming in at 4.8 and 4.0 magnitude, respectively:
This morning’s earthquake & the aftershock were both strong enough to rank in the top 10 largest earthquakes recorded in the greater NYC area. pic.twitter.com/DEsUSUTMkm
— Storm Team 4 NY (@StormTeam4NY) April 5, 2024
Manhattan, where many news networks broadcast from, sits about 50 miles from the epicenter. Here’s a clip of the original quake as it happened, live on the MLB Network.
Watch:
“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
Here was the bird’s eye view outside the Fox network headquarters:
SEE IT: Our camera at FOX headquarters captured the moment an #earthquake rattled the NYC area. https://t.co/SeSTgiqiZ3 pic.twitter.com/emZzFo51iF
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) April 5, 2024
A meeting of the United Nations Security Council was interrupted, too.
Watch:
The 4.7 magnitude earthquake interrupted a United Nations Security Council meeting being held in Manhattan.
The latest: https://t.co/8j9gxvz9BE pic.twitter.com/fjPMhWAx1l
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 5, 2024
This New Jersey man’s Ring camera caught two views of it; Middlesex is just over 16 miles from the epicenter:
Warning: coarse language:
“Holy shit! Holy shit!” – Video filmed by Brian in Middlesex NJ shows the house shaking and terrified dog jumping off the couch. as the earthquake hit the area. #earthquake pic.twitter.com/mcODN6NC5j
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 5, 2024
According to reports, NYC’s public alert system took an hour to send out a warning to people. Here’s how it looked at Fox Studios in Manhattan:
WATCH: It took New York an HOUR to send an emergency alert to cell phones about the earthquake.
Not setting any speed records.
Here’s the Fox News broadcast that was interrupted by the late alarm: pic.twitter.com/JBw2QRCgXd
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) April 5, 2024
But the reaction from the co-hosts on ABC’s “The View” might just be the best one of all. Listen as they freak out over that alert going off on their phones. I kind of feel for them, in this moment. Wait for Ana Navarro-Cárdenas’ off-the-cuff comment; it’s right on the money:
“The View” co-hosts react live to receiving a very loud and annoying emergency alert while discussing the 4.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the Northeast on Friday morning:@JoyVBehar: “Make it stop!”@ananavarro: “I need some tequila.” pic.twitter.com/6wd52NwEUO
— The Recount (@therecount) April 5, 2024
As mentioned at the beginning, one minute before 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, many felt that powerful 4.0 aftershock. Here’s a more granular view of where it happened:
Another earthquake just happened! Epicenter in NJ again and felt in Long Island, NY! 😲 pic.twitter.com/FeDyavXdEl
— Rosanna Prestia, MBA (@RosannaInvests) April 5, 2024
Former Fox News journalist Gretchen Carlson shared on X that she felt it and probably speaks for many native New Yorkers right about now (who, unlike Californians, don’t usually deal with earthquakes):
Just felt another #earthquake. Feel like I’m back in college in CA. Hope this isn’t going to become a thing in the NY area!
— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) April 5, 2024
At the time of this writing, there are no reports of serious injuries or major damage. We’ll keep you posted on any updates.
