The Big One... Actually, Make it a Tiny Tremor: A Look at NYC's Earthquake History
New York City: the city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of... and apparently, the land of not-so-frequent tremors? That's right, folks, while earthquakes might conjure images of California falling into the ocean (spoiler alert: it's not happening anytime soon), NYC has its own, ahem, interesting, seismic history.
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| How Many Earthquakes Has There Been In New York City |
So, How Many Earthquakes Are We Talking About Here?
Buckle up, because this might blow your mind (or should we say, shake it?): New York City has actually experienced at least 19 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.4 or higher. That's according to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, a place where scientists are much cooler than their name suggests.
Wait, 19? That doesn't sound like a lot.
Well, you're not wrong. Compared to California where earthquakes are basically a daily happy hour conversation starter, 19 in the grand scheme of things isn't that impressive. But hey, for a city built on solid rock (quite literally), it's enough to keep the geologists on their toes... or should we say, seismographs?
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The Big One That Wasn't So Big
Now, let's talk about the not-so-big one. The most powerful earthquake recorded in the NYC area was a whopping 5.0 magnitude way back in 1737. That's like a kitten tap dancing on your foot compared to the monstrous quakes California deals with.
Fun Fact: The 2011 Virginia earthquake (a cool 5.8 magnitude) rattled some windows in Manhattan, proving that tremors can travel farther than a case of the Mondays.
Should I Be Worried About Earthquakes in NYC?
Probably not. The earthquakes in NYC are usually tiny tremors, more likely to knock a picture frame off the wall than knock down a skyscraper. But hey, if it makes you feel better, you can always invest in some earthquake-resistant throw pillows.
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Here's the bottom line: NYC is more likely to be taken down by a rogue everything bagel with cream cheese avalanche than a devastating earthquake.
NYC Earthquake FAQs
How to prepare for an earthquake in NYC?
While major earthquakes are unlikely, being prepared is always a good idea. Here are some resources from the NYC Emergency Management https://www.nyc.gov/site/em/index.page:
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How to know if you felt an earthquake in NYC?
The USGS website has a handy tool to report earthquakes you’ve felt https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/tellus:
How to survive an earthquake in NYC?
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Drop, cover, and hold on! This is the recommended safety protocol for earthquakes anywhere https://news.va.gov/101149/earthquake-preparedness-drop-cover-and-hold-on/
How often do earthquakes happen in NYC?
Earthquakes are more common upstate New York than in NYC itself. The USGS has a database of historical earthquakes https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search/:
How to tell the difference between an earthquake and a construction project?
If your apartment vibrates for more than a few seconds and your neighbor isn't jackhammering again, it might be a tremor!
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