An earthquake in New Jersey on Friday morning was felt far and wide away, with shaking reported across eastern Pennsylvania and beyond, including the Lehigh Valley.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the 4.8 magnitude earthquake northeast of Lebanon, New Jersey, in Hunterdon County just after 10:20 a.m. Friday. That’s roughly 50 miles from Allentown.
Shaking could be felt across the entire mid-Atlantic region, including New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Lehigh County Emergency Services Director Tanya Hook said the office sent out an alert to residents letting them know the area felt the earthquake. She said the county 911 center is getting inundated with calls from residents reporting their houses were shaking.
She urged people to only call 911 if it is an emergency. Any damage should be reported through the non-emergency number 610-437-5252 or their local municipality.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said there were no reports of damage in the county. Initially the county’s 911 center was getting a lot of calls about the earthquake, but that has slowed down after the county posted on social media urging people to avoid calling it unless it is an emergency.
“We urge everybody to just stay calm,” he said.
McClure said the emergency management office is keep an eye out to see if there is any damage from the earthquake.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said in a video on social media that the city hall was evacuated after feeling the earthquake. Police Chief Charles Roca said there was no reports of damage in the city.
Bethlehem Area School District Jack Silva said schools are following the district’s hazard plan. No reports of damage or injuries were made there. Students will remain in school.
Allentown schools temporarily evacuated and safety teams are checking the perimeters of the buildings to check for cracks. Students will be able to return to the buildings after they are checked.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his office and the state Office of Emergency Management are monitoring the situation and in contact with counties regarding any damage.
The shaking stirred memories of the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake that jolted tens of millions of people from Georgia to Canada. Registering magnitude 5.8, it was the strongest quake to hit the East Coast since World War II. The epicenter was in Virginia.
That earthquake left cracks in the Washington Monument, spurred the evacuation of the White House and Capitol and rattled New Yorkers three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Morning Call reporter Jenny Roberts contributed to this report.
Source: Berkshire mont
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