Today’s earthquake near New York City was a startling event for residents of the tri-state area as hundreds of thousands of people called in to find out what caused the buildings to shake. Though infrequent, earthquakes do occur in this region, reminding us that these forces of nature aren’t limited to typical earthquake zones like California.
Earthquakes aren’t unheard of around NYC. There’s a major fault line in New Jersey called the Ramapo Fault, along with smaller ones directly under Manhattan. While most are minor, the potential for more significant events remains.
While today’s earthquake may seem unusual, earthquakes can actually occur anywhere on Earth. Roughly 75% of the United States is susceptible to experiencing a damaging earthquake. In fact, the region has a history of earthquakes. On August 10, 1884, a powerful magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck near Coney Island. The quake caused widespread shaking, damaged homes, and left many residents confused by the tremors.
The shaking felt during today’s earthquake might have seemed particularly intense for those in the Northeast. This is because the bedrock beneath the eastern United States is older, denser, and more solid than the younger, fault-riddled rock of the West Coast. These geologic differences cause earthquake waves to travel much farther in the East, leading to more widespread shaking.
Naturally, this raises a question: should residents of the Northeast be concerned about more powerful earthquakes in the future? While the likelihood of a truly devastating quake is lower than in California, the risk isn’t zero. Historical events like the Coney Island quake and even smaller tremors like today’s serve as important reminders that the potential for seismic activity always exists.
Want to stay on top of seismic activity in our region? Keep an eye out for our new earthquake heat map, releasing soon! We’ll provide comprehensive earthquake updates and visual tracking, helping you stay informed about potential risks.