A 4.8-magnitude earthquake rattled the Northeast United States on Friday, April 5, 2024, an unusual occurrence for a region not known for seismic activity. The quake struck at 10:23 a.m. Eastern Time, with its epicenter near Whitehouse Station in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, approximately 45 miles from New York City. The U.S. Geological Survey verified the magnitude and location of the tremor shortly after it was felt.
While there were no significant reports of structural damage or injuries, the earthquake did surprise many residents. The tremor’s effects reached across several states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and extending as far as Massachusetts and Maryland.
Caroline Becker, a Newark resident, described the experience: “Everything started to shake for what felt like 10 seconds. The dishes rattled, and I could feel the floor shift under me. I thought maybe a truck had hit the building.” The unexpected nature of the quake unsettled those living in a region where such events are a rarity.
The quake’s shallow depth of about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) was significant. Shallow earthquakes can produce more noticeable shaking over a broader area. This quake reached an audience of more than 42 million people, with reports indicating tremors felt as far as Syracuse, New York, and Baltimore, Maryland.
Although immediate impacts were limited, some disruptions were noted. Rutgers University temporarily evacuated several buildings, while the Federal Aviation Administration halted flights at major New York City area airports, including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, for inspections. Flights resumed within an hour.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul reassured the public, stating, “We are actively monitoring the situation and working with local officials to ensure safety.” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy echoed this sentiment by confirming no significant damage but indicating that assessments would continue through the weekend.
This earthquake marks the strongest recorded in New Jersey since 1783, a testament to the rarity of such occurrences. While the Eastern United States is not situated near major tectonic plate boundaries, intraplate earthquakes can still occur due to ancient faults deep within the Earth’s crust. The USGS notes that the northeastern region features a network of ancient faults formed over millions of years, complicating efforts to predict seismic events.
Utility companies acted swiftly following the tremor, conducting inspections to address any potential issues. Regional rail lines, such as New Jersey Transit, decreased speeds to check for track deformities, while Amtrak briefly imposed speed restrictions on the Northeast Corridor before returning to normal operations later that day.
In the wake of the quake, New York City’s Office of Emergency Management activated its Emergency Operations Center. The Fire Department reported receiving hundreds of calls but recorded no injuries or fires as a direct result of the earthquake.
Concerns over aftershocks emerged, with the USGS warning that weaker quakes could occur in the following hours or days. By Saturday morning, at least one aftershock—measured at a magnitude of 2.0—was confirmed in the same general vicinity.
The region has a history of infrequent but impactful earthquakes. A 5.8-magnitude quake in Virginia in 2011 served as a reminder of potential risks, damaging the Washington Monument and being felt by millions. The rarity of more powerful quakes in the Eastern U.S. has led some experts to call for improved building codes, especially in older urban centers.
Dr. John Ebel, a seismologist at Boston College, highlighted infrastructure vulnerabilities, stating, “The infrastructure in many cities here was not designed with earthquakes in mind. Stronger earthquakes could pose more serious risks, particularly in cities like Philadelphia, New York, or Boston, where masonry buildings are prevalent and retrofitting is limited.”
Unlike West Coast structures, which are built with stringent seismic codes, the Northeast has a patchwork of regulations that vary by state and municipality. The lack of a federal requirement for existing buildings to meet seismic standards, unless undergoing major renovations, allows for significant vulnerabilities. According to a FEMA report from 2018, a moderate to strong earthquake could result in $8–10 billion in economic damages due to aging infrastructure inadequately equipped for seismic activity.
Friday’s quake, while largely psychological in impact, serves as a stark reminder of the reality of regional preparedness. “People need to be aware that these events can and do happen here,” Dr. Ebel remarked. Local officials are starting to take this warning seriously. Margaret Salazar, a Montclair council member, expressed the need for vigilance: “We got lucky this time. But we can’t bet on luck going forward.”
Earthquakes in the eastern U.S. are often felt over greater distances than in the West due to the geology of the region. Dense bedrock effectively transmits seismic waves, allowing tremors to be detected far from their epicenter, which contrasts with West Coast earthquakes that dissipate more quickly through less cohesive materials.
As the dust settles in the days following the quake, geological and safety assessments will persist. The USGS has dispatched a rapid response team to deploy temporary seismometers in northern New Jersey to monitor aftershocks and gather valuable data. Such information will be instrumental in refining hazard maps and guiding future decisions about building codes and emergency protocols.
Though an earthquake in New Jersey seemed improbable to many, the unexpected tremor serves as a cautionary tale about the latent risks beneath the surface of seemingly stable ground.
"*" indicates required fields
