Quake Updates: New Yorkers Are 'Masters Of Disasters,' Says Gov

NEW YORK CITY — An apparent earthquake rocked the east coast Friday morning, authorities said.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was detected with an epicenter seven kilometers north northeast of Whitehouse Station in New Jersey, according to the United States Geological Survey, which monitors earthquakes.

"Earthquakes don't happen every day in New York," said Mayor Eric Adams, who said there were no reports of major damage or safety issues as a result of the earthquake at a press conference.

"This is one of the largest earthquakes on the east coast to occur in the last century," Hochul said in a seperate Friday news conference.

Officials said that initial inspections for much of the city's infrastructure — including rail, bridges and tunnels — have been completed, and no damage has been reported yet.

"You're always concerned about aftershocks after an earthquake," Adams said, "but New Yorkers should go about their normal day."

Schools Chancellor David Banks said that no teachers or students were injured during the earthquake and that the school day — including afterschool programs — will continue as normal.

"Parents do not need to pick up their child early as a result of today's earthquake," Banks said, adding that any updates will be communicated directly to families.

The mayor said that, unlike many New Yorkers, he did not feel the earthquake in Gracie Mansion Friday morning, and that his security detail informed him of the historic shakes.

One reporter asked Zach Iscol, the commissioner of New York City Emergency Management, why an emergency NotifyNYC regarding the earthquake was sent out roughly 20 minutes after the event.

The phone notification came far after other officials, including Gov. Hochul and the USGS, had already shared information confirming the earthquake moments after it happened Friday morning, the reporter added.

"I think 20 minutes time to target is pretty fast for public notification," Iscol said in response.

Up in Albany, the Governor said she felt the historic earthquake as she worked on the already-late state budget.

"You cannot plan for this. There's no early warnings. There's no weather service that can tell you an earthquake is imminent," she said.

Seismetogiests said it is the largest recorded quake in the area.

"But fortunately, here in the state of New York, we are masters of disasters," Hochul said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that JFK Airport is currently at a full ground stop and that her team was assessing any damage across the state.

According to the FAA and JFK Airport's social media account, the airport is operating normally.

Hochul also warned New Yorkers of the risk of aftershocks over the coming days.

"Aftershocks aren't predictable," said Jackie Bray, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

She also advised New Yorkers to inspect their homes for damage and to check their gas and water lines as a precaution.

"We are going to be reviewing all potentially vulnerable infrastructure state sites throughout the state of New York," Hochul said, "that is critically important in the aftermath of an event like this."

MTA officials said that bus and train service was unaffected by the quake and Con Edison officials said no damage has been reported.

Flights were grounded at Newark Airport in New Jersey, according to the FAA, and planes were briefly grounded at JFK earlier.

While operations appear to be currently normal at LaGuardia and JFK according to the FAA, people taking to the skies today should check with their airlines for delays.

The shaking began about 10:30 a.m. and lasted for approximately 30 seconds, according to reports. The quake was felt as far as New York City and Philadelphia.

No serious damage or injuries have been reported in New York City as of Friday morning.

Patch readers from Morris County, New Jersey to Suffolk County in New York described items falling off shelves and spooked animals.

In an email to Patch, one first grade teacher from Maplewood, New Jersey recounted her classroom's experience:

"Around 10:30 we heard a rumbling and there was a shaking vibration," she said. "The kids were asking what it was and we thought it was some sort of construction going on, may-be drilling. One girl who used to live in California said she thought it was an earthquake but we all said no way, including myself ... I couldn't believe it was actually an earthquake."

While many New Yorkers reported their homes shaking and books falling off the shelves, others shared more tongue-in-cheek responses to the unusually large tectonic activity.

"Clearly the earthquake was in response to the Mets first win," said a New York Times business reporter.

The Empire State Building posted a simple and clear message to X, formerly known as Twitter: "I AM FINE."

A much smaller quake recently hit New York City in January, hitting Roosevelt Island.

A request for comment from the USGS was not immediately returned.

This is a breaking news story