East Coast Earthquake: 4.8 Magnitude Shakes NY, NJ

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck the East Coast on Friday, rattling the New York and New Jersey area and serving as a reminder that seismic activity, although infrequent, is a part of the region’s geological reality. While the quake did not result in significant damage, it sparked interest in the East Coast’s earthquake history and its vulnerability to such events.

Historically, the East Coast has experienced milder earthquakes compared to the West Coast, which is known for its more frequent and stronger seismic activity. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Northeast has recorded 925 earthquakes since 1900, with most registering below a 2.0 magnitude. The USGS notes that damage is more likely to occur when the magnitude exceeds 4.0.

Despite their rarity, stronger earthquakes do occur in the East. The USGS reported that as of 2021, eastern North America had experienced more than 400 earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.5 or higher in the previous 50 years, highlighting the region’s seismic activity.

Friday’s earthquake was the largest to hit the eastern U.S. since 2020, when a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck Sparta, North Carolina. The moment magnitude scale, which measures the size of earthquakes, indicates that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in amplitude, underlining the significance of the event.

The most powerful earthquake to hit the East Coast in the last century was the 5.8 magnitude quake that struck Virginia in 2011. This earthquake caused some structural damage, including cracked and shifted foundations, as well as broken walls and chimneys, highlighting the potential impact of such events.

The last major earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher centered around the New York City area occurred in 1884. This 5.2 magnitude earthquake damaged chimneys and was felt from Virginia to Maine, according to Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, underscoring the long history of seismic activity in the region.

The largest earthquake on record in the eastern U.S. occurred in 1886, when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Charleston, South Carolina, claiming the lives of 60 people and causing widespread destruction, highlighting the potential for significant earthquakes in the region.

Friday’s earthquake appeared to have originated in New Jersey and was felt across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and parts of Massachusetts. Local officials reported no major damage, but the USGS says aftershocks are possible, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and preparedness.

While the West Coast is more known for its seismic activity due to its proximity to the boundary of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates, parts of the East Coast are also prone to earthquakes. Fault lines are located in the New Madrid Seismic Zone near Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas, as well as the Middleton Place Summerville Seismic Zone near Charleston, South Carolina, emphasizing the need for awareness and preparedness in these areas.

The 2011 Virginia earthquake, while not the largest in U.S. history, was likely felt by more people than any other earthquake in North America’s history due to its proximity to densely populated areas, impacting an estimated 200-300 million people, highlighting the potential reach and impact of earthquakes on the East Coast.

“Earthquakes are uncommon but not unheard of along the Atlantic Coast,” said the USGS. “There’s no active plate boundary between the Atlantic & N. American plates, but there are stresses,” emphasizing the importance of understanding and monitoring seismic activity in the region.