Earthquake tremors impact sections of New York City's region, specifically New Jersey.
In an unexpected yet relatively minor event, a small earthquake of 3.0 magnitude shook parts of New York City, New Jersey, and the surrounding areas on Saturday night. The epicenter of the quake was near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, in Bergen County.
According to Xan Davidson, a USGS analyst, people should not expect a lot of damage from a quake of this magnitude. Instead, the shaking was the main concern. Davidson also mentioned that earthquakes in the area are not common, but they do happen. This particular event was not considered a significant quake, as it falls below the usual magnitude range for noticeable earthquakes in the region.
The USGS analyst further explained that while earthquakes are relatively rare on the East Coast, a magnitude 3.0 is not considered a significant quake. The wide area of people who reported feeling the quake reaching as far as Connecticut is not unexpected, given the size of the population in the affected region.
Reports indicate that there were brief shaking sensations in parts of the area due to the quake. New York City Emergency Management reported that tremors may have been felt in parts of New York City, but there were no reports of injuries or damage in the city.
The 2024 earthquake was one of the largest earthquakes on the East Coast in the last century, surpassing the 4.8 magnitude event that occurred near Whitehouse Station in April 2024. This event was the strongest since the 1884 earthquake, which had an estimated magnitude of about 5, centered between Brooklyn and Sandy Hook.
Earthquakes in the New York City and New Jersey area are typically characterized by moderate magnitudes with significant intervals between larger events, roughly every few decades for the strongest quakes historically. The geological conditions do not favor large earthquakes, and the area's infrastructure, including NYC skyscrapers, is designed to withstand moderate shocks up to about magnitude 6.5.
It is important to note that the 2024 quake was not a significant event compared to the larger earthquakes that have occurred in the past, such as the 1737 and 1783 quakes in New Jersey. The seismicity is typically characterized by moderate magnitudes with significant intervals between larger events.
In a separate event, Illinois has become the first state to require student mental health screenings, but this news is not directly related to the earthquake.
[1] Geological Survey, U.S., Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Earthquakes in New York. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/earthquakes-new-york
[2] New York City Office of Emergency Management. (2021, March 15). Earthquakes in New York City. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www1.nyc.gov/site/oem/about/earthquakes-in-new-york-city.page
[3] United States Geological Survey. (2021, March 15). Earthquake Hazards Program. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.usgs.gov/centers/neis/science/earthquake-hazards-program
[4] United States Geological Survey. (2021, March 15). Earthquake Hazards Program: Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/earthquake-hazards-program-frequently-asked-questions?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products
[5] United States Geological Survey. (2021, March 15). Earthquakes in New York City and New Jersey. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/earthquakes-new-york-city-and-new-jersey
International general-news outlets have reported a 3.0 magnitude earthquake in the New York City and New Jersey area, causing brief shaking sensations. The event, while not significant in terms of damage, is a reminder of the area's seismic activity and the importance of understanding health implications related to emergency situations such as earthquakes. Weather forecasting agencies should also consider the potential impact of future earthquakes on the region's climate and infrastructure.
