Recap: How earthquake jolted New York on a morning like no other

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Borough residents were left rattled Friday by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake felt from Pennsylvania to Boston.

Tremors originating out of New Jersey were recorded at 10:25 a.m., and lasted for about 15 seconds.

While earthquakes registering at low magnitudes are not uncommon in the area, Friday’s event was serious enough to prompt emergency alerts from state and federal officials, and early pickups by concerned parents at local schools.

Here are the key things to know:

• There have been no reports of injuries or structural damage on Staten Island, according to a law-enforcement source.
• Mayor Eric Adams and top city officials held a media briefing at noon. “New Yorkers should go about their normal day,” Adams said.
• An “aftershock earthquake” was felt on Staten Island around 6 p.m. Officials said it registered 4.0 magnitude. Smaller aftershocks have been reported in New Jersey and New York state throughout the day.

Here is a time-stamped look at how the dramatic morning unfolded on Staten Island:

7:07 p.m. — NOTIFY NYC NOTES POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER AFTERSHOCKS

Following the 4.0 magnitude “aftershock earthquake,” Notify NYC shared that New York City residents can continue with usual activities. However, New Yorkers should remain aware as “more aftershocks may still be experienced.”

6:04 p.m. — AFTERSHOCK EARTHQUAKE FELT ON S.I.

Shaking was felt in homes and buildings on Staten Island and throughout New York City. “An aftershock earthquake has occurred in the NYC area,” according to the city’s Notify NYC alert system. The Advance/SILive.com has received reports from Dongan Hills, Midland Beach, Oakwood and New Springville.

3:54 p.m. — ANIMALS OK AT STATEN ISLAND ZOO

Staten Island Zoo Executive Director Ken Mitchell said some of the borough’s favorite furry and aquatic “friends” — including the resident groundhog, Staten Island Chuck — used their animal instants when the entire facility started shaking.

“I’m pleased to report that the Zoo and its collection of 817 animals were safe and sound during the earthquake today,” Mitchell said. “There was no damage of any kind. Our animals reacted according to their own natural instincts.”

Click here for more on the Zoo.

3:26 p.m. — NO DISRUPTIONS AT 2 HOSPITALS

Staten Island’s two hospital systems reported no disruptions Friday.

Spokespersons for Staten Island University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center both issued statements saying the earthquake had minimal impact to SIUH’s two campuses in Ocean Breeze and Prince’s Bay and RUMC’s in West Brighton.

Click here for more on the hospitals.

2:56 p.m. — HOCHUL: AFTERSHOCKS REPORTED

Gov. Kathy Hochul said three much smaller aftershocks have hit the New York region after Friday morning’s earthquake: 1.8 magnitude at 12:31 p.m., 2.0 magnitude at 1:14 p.m., and 2.0 magnitude a few minutes ago.

12:21 p.m. — BUILDINGS COMMISH ODDO SPEAKS

James Oddo, the Buildings Department commissioner and former Staten Island borough president, said his department has not seen an influx of calls about damage, but is still bringing on additional construction and engineering professionals to deal with any issues that may arise over the weekend.

“This is a time for that tried and true saying if you see something say something, so to New Yorkers, we at the Department of Buildings are concerned about some of the downstream possibilities, cracks that you might see that may materialize or manifest in a week or a month, or scaffolding, retaining walls,” he said. “If you see something that is problematic please call 311.”

Click here for more on Oddo’s remarks.

12:19 p.m. — MAYOR’S PRESS BRIEFING

Mayor Eric Adams held an afternoon press briefing during which he informed residents of the five boroughs that there weren’t immediate concerns, but to be on the lookout for aftershocks and take the appropriate precautions.

“New Yorkers should go about their normal day,” Adams said. “We are still assessing the situation and will continue to update the public...If you feel an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck and take cover under a solid piece of furniture next to an interior wall or in a doorway.”

There are “no major impacts or safety events” reported in New York City as a result of the earthquake, Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol said.

Also, there is “no indication that any of our buildings were compromised,” Schools Chancellor David Banks said.

Click here for more on the mayor’s briefing.

12:07 p.m. — MTA ‘OPERATING SAFELY AND NORMALLY’

12:02 p.m. — STRONGEST N.Y. QUAKE IN YEARS

During an emergency briefing, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is taking Friday’s earthquake “extremely seriously,” as this is believed to be the strongest quake felt in New York in over a decade.

“There is always the possibility of aftershocks and I’ll get to that in a moment, but we have not felt the magnitude of an earthquake this level since about 2011,” the governor said.

Click here for more on Hochul’s remarks.

11:52 a.m. — OFFICIALS WARN OF AFTERSHOCKS

Officials issued a warning on the emergency alert system that aftershocks might be felt. “NYers can continue usual activities,” the alert said. Here is what to do in an earthquake.

11:49 a.m. — ISLANDERS REACT

“I thought maybe my roof was coming down, because I need to do a roof repair,” said Bukola Akano of Stapleton. “It was very scary. The whole street, everybody is out.”

“I heard my liquor bottles shaking first,” said Stapleton resident Danny Franke. “Then I felt the whole house shaking. I immediately came outside to see if the neighbors felt it. It’s older housing, so you always have to worry.”

“I left California and I never thought I’d have another earthquake,” said Russ Anixter, a native of San Francisco who now lives on Staten Island. “This one was longer than any I’d ever experienced. I wasn’t there for the 1989 quake, but this is the biggest one I’ve ever felt.”

Said Christine Weber of Westerleigh:

“I was still in bed, but the cat stood up all of the sudden and it sounded like a freight train when it comes into the station. I didn’t feel it so much because I’m in a memory foam bed but everything on my dresser made noise. I’m going around the corner to have a cup of coffee or my neighbor because I’m a little shaky.”

11:43 a.m. — WHERE QUAKE WAS FELT

The United States Geological Survey posted a graphic depicting where the quake was felt along the East Coast.

11:25 a.m. — PRESIDENT BIDEN BRIEFED ON QUAKE

President Joseph Biden has been briefed on the earthquake, which has an epicenter in New Jersey, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “The White House is in touch with federal, state, and local officials as we learn more.”

11:22 a.m. — FDNY: ‘NO MAJOR INCIDENTS AT THIS TIME’

As officials continue to look for reports of injuries or damage, the FDNY posted that “there are no major incidents at this time. We will continue to monitor.”

11:10 a.m. — SOME PARENTS SIGN CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL

The Advance/SILive.com has received reports of many parents signing their children out of school after the earthquake.

One woman could be seen leaving Laurie Intermediate School (I.S. 72) in New Springville with two children.

When asked if she was taking her kids home, she said, “yes, I’m scared.”

Click here for more.

11:02 a.m. — SCHOOL BUILDING RESPONSE TEAMS ASSEMBLE

The NYC Department of Education is assembling its building response teams to “ensure all of our students and staff are safe.”

10:59 a.m. — MAYOR TO HOLD BRIEFING AT NOON

Mayor Eric Adams and senior administration officials will be holding a briefing to discuss the impacts of the earthquake at noon.

10:52 a.m. — STATEMENT FROM BP FOSSELLA

Borough President Vito Fossella issued the following statement:

“It looks like a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt through all five boroughs, and beyond.

“We have been in touch with the Mayor’s office and New York City Office of Emergency Management. As of right now, there have been no reported impacts to municipal services, no reported damages and no reported injuries.

“We will monitor the situation and remain in regular contact with all appropriate agencies and officials.”

10:49 a.m. — FDNY STATEMENT

The FDNY has released the following statement:

“Around 10:30 AM, FDNY received reports of building shaking. We are responding to calls and evaluating structural stability. There are no major incidents at this time. We will continue to monitor.”

10:47 a.m. — NYPD ASKS 911 BE USED FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

As authorities monitor Staten Island for structural damage and injuries, the NYPD issued a statement asking borough residents to use the 911 system only to report emergencies in relation to this incident.

10:47 a.m. — MAYOR ADAMS: EPICENTER OF LEBANON, N.J.

Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the city felt a 4.8 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter of Lebanon, N.J.

10:43 a.m. — OAKWOOD RESIDENT ‘PRAYING IT WOULDN’T GET WORSE’

One Oakwood resident described standing by his bedroom window when he felt the vibrations.

“I live near Hylan Boulevard, so at first I thought it was a big truck passing by,” he said. “But this was stronger, and lasted longer. I knew after three seconds that this was different. I could feel the whole house shake under my feet. It lasted about 10 seconds, and I just kept praying it wouldn’t get worse.”

10:42 a.m. — COUNCILMAN REPORTS DAMAGE IN HOME

City Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) posted photos on social media showing items that broke in his home during the tremors. Among the items was a Winston Churchill bobblehead.

10:38 a.m. — ‘I THOUGHT IT WAS A SEMI-TRUCK’

“I was sitting down in my room, and all of a sudden everything started shaking, I thought maybe it was a semi-truck coming down my block,” said Mariah, a Rosebank resident. “But I proceeded to ask my friends and family in different neighborhoods all over Staten Island if they had felt it. They all confirmed it was a small earthquake.”

10:34 a.m. — STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR

Gov. Kathy Hochul has issued a statement:

“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.”

10:33 a.m. — ‘SOUNDED LIKE STAMPEDE’ IN NEW DORP OFFICE

Said a borough resident from her office in New Dorp:

“We were sitting here in the building and all of a sudden it sounded like people were moving furniture, in like a stampede. The walls were vibrating.”

10:31 a.m. — WEATHER CHANNEL CONFIRMS 4.8 MAGNITUDE QUAKE

The Weather Channel has confirmed a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the Northeast, with effects felt in New York City, Philadelphia and Boston.

10:29 a.m. — EARTHQUAKE FELT ON STATEN ISLAND

An earthquake was felt on Staten Island just minutes ago. The tremors were felt around 10:25 a.m. and lasted about 15-20 seconds, rattling homes.