Earthquake Shakes Northeast US

Facts

• An earthquake of at least 4.8 magnitude hit Lebanon, N.J., Friday morning local time, about 45 miles (72 km) west of New York City and 50 miles (80 km) north of Philadelphia. It was felt in surrounding areas by more than 42M people.¹
• The earthquake's tremors were reportedly felt as far north as Maine and as far south as Delaware.²
• While a 4.8 magnitude quake is deemed minor, it can be felt from further away in the region as the soil rocks in the region are older, more dense, and harder. It can also cause more damage because the Northeast doesn't take the same precautions as other regions.³
• New York Mayor Eric Adams said there were no reports of 'major impacts or injuries.' A Police Department official added that there was no damage to the subway system, with the public school system saying the same for its buildings.⁴
• The Federal Aviation Administration paused flight departures briefly at surrounding airports in the New York area, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. New Jersey also said its train service would be delayed by up to 20 minutes.⁵
• The region has endured earthquakes before, including a 2.2 magnitude felt in New York and New Jersey last year, a 3.6 magnitude felt in Adams Center, N.Y., a month before that, and a 5.8 magnitude quake in Virginia in 2011 that forced building evacuations in New York City.⁴

Sources: ¹FOX News, ²Verge, ³NBC, ⁴New York Times and ⁵wsj.com.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by NBC New York. This news should prompt a discussion about the climate-related causes of earthquakes. Seismic shifts in the Earth's geology aren't typically caused by climate change, but a rise in impacts, such as flooding and sea level rise, can weigh the ground and allow quakes to occur more often, even in places where they rarely happen. Climate change touches every aspect of our planet and requires holistic solutions.
• Narrative B, as provided by Watts Up With That?. Climate alarmists, who try to turn every natural phenomenon into a cause for concern, are overreacting again. These fearmongers have done everything in their power to riddle society with climate anxiety, but their tactics are in bad faith. Geologic events like this one do happen occasionally in the Northeast US and there are practical steps that can be taken to increase earthquake preparedness without plunging, once again, into climate fantasies.

Predictions