Residents are reacting as central New Jersey was the epicenter of Friday’s 4.8 earthquake and 4.0 aftershock. NBC10’s Brian Sheehan has the latest.
An aftershock rocked parts of the region again on Friday.
Just before 6 p.m. a 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook 7 kilometers southwest of Gladstone, New Jersey, according to the United States Geological Survey.
USGS took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce the preliminary reports of the aftershock.
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There have been at least 32 aftershocks that registered 1.8 or more on the Richter scale, according to USGS geophysicist Timothy Clements. It's possible that there were more, but they went undetected if they were below the 1.8 mark.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm that the state felt an aftershock. He also shared some tips to help residents stay safe.
Tips for dealing with aftershocks
Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Dominick Mireles shared the following safety tips in the event of an aftershock:
- Protect yourself right away by dropping to the floor, holding on and taking cover
- If you're inside, drop to your knees and hands and hold onto something sturdy like a table or desk
- Cover your head and neck with your arms
- If you're driving in a car, pull over and set the parking brake
- If you're in bed, turn face down and cover your head with your pillow
- If you're outdoors, stay outside and away from buildings
- If you're inside, stay inside, don't run outside and avoid doorways. Don't try to evacuate the building
This comes hours after a 4.8 earthquake hit Tewksbury, New Jersey Friday morning.
NBC10 crew experience aftershock
NBC10's Brian Sheehan was standing waiting to go live for NBC10 News at 6 p.m. when the ground shook underneath him.
The crew could hear the rumble and see the camera shake as a young man bolted out of the general store to get away from the building.
The aftershock was described as what seemed to be a full-blown jackhammer.
One man ran out of his son-in-law's restaurant to share what he experienced with NBC10.
"We all grabbed each other. It was like the third time today that people are grabbing each other to make sure we are okay," Rick Sunday said.
USGS predicts more aftershocks
According to a forecast by the USGS, more aftershocks are expected over the next week.
The agency took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say that the predicted aftershocks could measure 3.0 or more on the Richter scale.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
