Philadelphia shaken by 4.8 earthquake centered at the moment in New Jersey, 4.0 aftershock reported: USGS

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The United States Geological Survey reported a 4.0 magnitude aftershock was felt about seven kilometers southwest of Gladstone, New Jersey at round 6 p.m. Friday. The aftershock was felt all through components of Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. 

This aftershock comes after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was noticed in North Jersey round 10:23 a.m. about seven kilometers from Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

Shaking from the earthquake was felt within the metropolis of Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware. Lebanon is in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and nearer to New York City. 

Whitehouse Station is a few 61.5-mile drive from Philadelphia.

Hunterdon County residents described a scary expertise Friday morning as Tewksbury Township was the epicenter of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake.

On its Facebook web page, Hunterdon County wrote there have been no stories of accidents nor individuals who’ve been evacuated or displaced on account of the earthquake, which struck at 10:23 a.m.

Nicholas Devlin stated he was in mattress only a few miles from the earthquake’s epicenter when he felt the tremors.

“All of a sudden, this large explosion. I believed a truck ran proper into my home. It hit that tough,” Devlin stated. “It was essentially the most horrifying factor. I believe I’m nonetheless shaken now from it.”

He stated the earthquake knocked down a number of objects, together with a few of his vintage candlestick holders.

“You simply do not anticipate something like that,” Devlin stated. “I’ve by no means felt something like that.”

Kristina Feeley, who works at Oldwick General Store, stated the store was crammed with clients when the earthquake struck.

“Everything was sort of shaking, a number of rattling just like the jars on the cabinets have been sort of rattling just a little bit,” Feeley stated. “Thank God, nothing broke.”

Hunterdon County stated after the earthquake, two after-shocks occurred over a 90-minute span.

The county is presently assessing harm because it’s beginning to obtain stories of structural points on personal properties.

“Earthquakes are scary. I imply, my very first one, and I swear I used to be shaking for the subsequent hour or so,” Devlin stated.
“It will get you to your core.”

Hunterdon County is urging owners to report any harm to their property via an on-line kind on the county’s web site.

Shaking was additionally reportedly felt in Boston, Massachusetts, and calls into our newsroom stated it was additionally felt in Burlington, Vermont.

Officials urge residents to not name 911

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy stated the state has activated the Emergency Operations Center and urged 911 calls to be reserved for emergencies.

The Philadelphia Police Department is urging folks to not name 911 in regards to the earthquake.

Philadelphia officers stated residents can join textual content message alerts about emergencies via PreparedPhiladelphia by texting 888-777.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stated he’s monitoring the state of affairs together with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

NJ Transit, PATCO, Amtrak delays; SEPTA not impacted

SEPTA stated there are not any service disruptions on account of the New Jersey earthquake.

PATCO has suspended service whereas they examine the integrity of the road out of an abundance of warning following the earthquake.  There is presently no phrase on how lengthy the inspection will take.

NJ Transit can also be delaying trains for as much as 20 minutes so bridges could be inspected for security following the earthquake.

There could also be delays on Amtrak trains as velocity restrictions are applied. Train tracks are being inspected.

PHL Airport,not impacted by earthquake

There are not any present impacts at Philadelphia International Airport from the earthquake.

“Runways have been closed for inspection for about 10 minutes, nevertheless common operations have resumed,” a spokesperson for the airport advised CBS News Philadelphia.

Did you’re feeling the bottom shake? Send us your images & movies

Send us your images and movies at CBSPhiladelphia.com/share and so they could also be featured on-line or on-air. 

What is an earthquake and the way severe is a 4.7 or 4.8?

A magnitude 4.7 or 4.8 earthquake is taken into account a “mild earthquake” and isn’t unusual. While they’re typically felt, they typically trigger no harm, CBS News reported. 

Any harm can be extra doubtless closest to the epicenter and older buildings product of brick and stone can be extra more likely to be affected, Temple professor Nick Davatzes stated.

Earthquakes occur when the tectonic plates that make up Earth’s crust slip or slide previous one another, consultants beforehand advised CBS News.

Derrick Pitts, the chief astronomer at The Franklin Institute, stated it is typical for the area to really feel one of these earthquake each few years. He stated the realm final felt one like this again in 2011.

“There are earthquakes of far lesser magnitude that occurred, however we have a tendency to not discover them due to different background noise of vehicles and building and issues like that,” Pitts stated. “So, after we get above 3.5 magnitude up into 4 and past, we really begin to really feel it outdoors of the entire different stuff that is taking place.”

The degree of shaking felt was not too completely different from a big truck driving by, Davatzes stated.

“This just isn’t the kind of earthquake that sometimes causes a number of harm,” Pitts added. “There may very well be some outliers that occurred on account of this, however I believe what most individuals would say, they felt it or they perhaps did not even really feel it due to different background noise that is taking place round them.”

Pitts stated with earthquakes, the decrease the magnitude of an earthquake, the better the chance of an aftershock. He stated the realm doubtless would not really feel an aftershock of this one.

“It’s not typical that we’ll have an aftershock of the identical magnitude on this case for this sort of earthquake,” Pitts stated.

No main harm is anticipated from this earthquake round Philadelphia. Any harm felt would doubtless be nearer to the positioning – and can be minor, Davatzes stated.

Modern buildings are made with building methods that may restrict harm from earthquakes – however older, extra inflexible buildings made out of stone or brick would possibly see some small cracks kind or different minor points, particularly nearer to the epicenter, Davatzes stated.

Earlier this yr, the U.S. Geological Survey warned that almost 75% of the nation may face doubtlessly damaging earthquakes or intense floor shaking within the subsequent century.

While areas like California and Alaska expertise essentially the most earthquakes, researchers additionally reported the potential for extra damaging earthquakes alongside the Atlantic coast close to cities like Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.