A 4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Rattled New York City and Northeast. FAA Pauses Air Traffic

New York City viewed from the air
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Northeast Friday morning, according to a preliminary estimate from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred at 10:23 a.m. EDT and was centered about 4 miles (7 km) north-northeast of Whitehouse Station, N.J., the U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement.   It was approximately 40 miles (64 km) from New York City.
The quake was felt in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. As of one hour after the quake, the USGS hadn’t reported any aftershocks.
The tremor lasted just under a minute and social media reports clearly indicate that it had rattled local inhabitants who are not used to experiencing earthquakes.
The earthquake came on the heels of a 7.4-magnitude in Taiwan. The quake there was the strongest to hit the Republic of China in 25 years and killed at least nine people.
Residents of New York City received emergency alerts from the nation’s Wireless Emergency Alert system, although it was first activated approximately 30 minutes after the tremor occurred.
“4.7 magnitude earthquake has occurred in the NYC area,” the system said in its initial message. “Residents are advised to remain indoors and to call 911 if injured,” adding that “Aftershocks may be felt.”
FBT Editorial Director Jonathan Spira was working from home and on a video conference call when the quake struck. He reported that the building swayed multiple times, some framed photographs on walls swayed as well, and items on shelves and in vitrines rattled but did not fall.
The mayor’s office said that it had not received any reports of major damage due to the earthquake.
The Federal Aviation Administration, however, did pause departures at some New York metropolitan area airports.
“Due to the earthquake in the New Jersey area, the situation is rapidly changing,” the FAA said in a statement.  By noon, air traffic in the region had returned to normal.
The last major earthquake in the region was in 2001 in Virgina, a 5.9-magnitude, which was centered outside Washington, D.C., was one of the strongest to hit the region in modern history. Tremors were reported from North Carolina to Maine.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)