At around 10:25 this morning, New Jerseyans across the state were woken up by the tremoring of an earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake reached a magnitude of 4.8 centered at White House Station, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
The earthquake’s shake was felt throughout the Northeast, including parts of New York City and Philadelphia. As of now, no reports have been made surrounding injuries or damages.
At 10:49AM, the City of Hoboken sent out a Nixle alert to residents:
The City of Hoboken and much of New Jersey and New York experienced a magnitude 4.8 earthquake this morning. The City continues to monitor the situation.
Hoboken Public Safety officials are checking on senior buildings, the hospital, and other critical infrastructure.
Residents are asked to refrain from calling 911 unless they are experiencing an emergency.
While there have been no reports of damage to facilities, if you notice damage to your property please contact the non-emergency number of the Hoboken Police Department at 201-420-2100.
You can read the full alert here.
The Holland Tunnel is temporarily being held for inspection and locals can expect delays. NJ Transit rail service is subject to up to 20-minute delays in both directions due to bridge inspections.
Additionally, the number of planes allowed to land and depart at Newark Airport is now limited due to the earthquake, which the airport says may result in more delays.
During an earthquake, water and gas lines are extremely vulnerable, according to MCPlumbing. “When damage to gas lines occurs, a leak may happen,” the source says. Residents are urged to stay alert to leaks and be aware of potential fires.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “it is possible to have two earthquakes of about the same size in a sequence,” meaning there is a chance another could potentially happen. However, this is an ongoing story; we’ll update this post as more details unfold.
