(NewsNation) — The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 4.8 earthquake in Lebanon, New Jersey, at 10:23 a.m. on Friday.
New Yorkers took to social media, reporting feeling the earthquake Friday morning, as did people as far away as Philadelphia and Massachusetts.
Some minor aftershocks were reported following the earthquake, the strongest being a 2.2 magnitude.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said the city has had no reports of significant injuries or damages from the earthquake. Authorities urged residents to be aware of possible aftershocks and stay safe in the event they occur.
If you feel an earthquake, the safest thing to do is to drop to the ground and cover your neck. If possible, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or a load-bearing doorway.
President Joe Biden has spoken to the governor of New Jersey and said everything is under control following the quake.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said there were no life-threatening situations and no reports of damage to buildings so far but officials will stay vigilant in coming days. The earthquake was one of the largest to hit the area in the last century and Hochul advised residents to be aware of the possibility of aftershocks.
One man told NewsNation he thought construction workers in his building were working in the room next door. Another man from England said his relatives checked on him when word of the earthquake crossed the Atlantic.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement on the quake, asking residents not to call 911 to report it unless there was an emergency.
“Our region just experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, with an epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County. We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
New York City Mayor spokesman Fabian Levy said the city is assessing the damage.
“While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact,” he said.
A camera inside a United Nations Security Council meeting caught the moment the tremors hit the UN building in New York City, as Save the Children President Janti Soeripto was addressing the committee.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at John F. Kennedy National Airport until 11:30 a.m. ET. The ground stop was to give crews time to check the runway, but could cause 2-4 hour delays throughout the day, NewsNation travel contributor Peter Greenberg said on “NewsNation Live.” Newark’s Liberty Airport remains open.
Traffic in and out of the Holland Tunnel has been halted temporarily until it can be inspected.
Amtrack has instituted speed restrictions in the northeast as tracks are inspected. New Jersey reported system-wide delays on rail services, with Newark Light Rail suspended system-wide for track inspections, with portions of Newark Light Rail and Atlantic City Rail suspended temporarily.
NewsNation reporters Connell McShane and Evan Lambert were on the ground in New York when the earthquake happened.
An #earthquake…in New York? Yes! Lee Harris and I hit the streets. It turns out one of New York City’s all-time great radio anchors is also quite a live shot photographer.@NewsNation pic.twitter.com/F5chDpLf0G
— Connell McShane (@connellmcshane) April 5, 2024
Gov. Hochul on earthquake felt across the mid-Atlantic. People in DC, NJ, CT, NY saying they felt. https://t.co/4cD6HIB7Tb
— Evan Lambert (@EvanLambertTV) April 5, 2024
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also said online the state is monitoring the situation and assessing any possible damage and New York City’s transit department said there were no reports of damage or service disruption to the NYC transit system.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president has been briefed on the situation and is contact with local authorities.
While earthquakes aren’t as common in New York as other areas, the Ramapo Fault zone does span part of the state as well as New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
A 4.8 magnitude quake is strong enough to be felt but typically not strong enough to result in significant damages, though windows and dishes may be broken. Earthquakes in the central and eastern U.S. are generally felt over a wider geographic area than those in the West.
A new seismic model released by the USGS said approximately 75% of the U.S. population could be affected by earthquakes in the future, with California facing the highest risks for strong earthquakes and damage.
But while California may have the most well-known fault lines, there are also lines running through much of the country including Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Illinois, and Boston.