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Did You Feel It? 3.0-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks New Jersey and New York City

Daily Alerts August 03, 2025

Did You Feel It? 3.0-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks New Jersey and New York City

DailyAlerts.Online｜August 3 2025

Did You Feel It? 3.0-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks New Jersey and New York City
Did You Feel It? 3.0-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks New Jersey and New York City

In a rare geological occurrence for the Northeast, a magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck near Hasbrouck Heights, Bergen County, New Jersey, at approximately 10:18 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 2. In an area not used to frequent seismic activity, the event caused curiosity and anxiety despite its small size by sending tremors over all five boroughs of New York City and into adjacent states.

1. Earthquake Overview 🟠

  • Magnitude: 3.0 (Richter scale), considered minor but felt due to the shallow depth and geology of the East Coast (NBC New York, The Independent)

  • Less than 8 miles (13 km) west of Midtown Manhattan, in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, is the epicenter (NBC New York).

  • Depth: Approximately 6.2 miles (10 km) beneath the surface—shallow earthquakes tend to produce sharper jolts (WTOP News)

  • Time: Around 10:18 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 2, 2025 (CBS News)

While magnitude 3.0 events are globally insignificant, this quake’s proximity to densely populated areas and efficient geological propagation made it widely noticeable.

Seismic waves
Seismic waves

2. Why It Was Widely Felt

Eastern U.S. Seismic waves can travel farther thanks to geology:
The Northeast's older, denser bedrock effectively transmits shockwaves, in contrast to California's shattered crust. As a result, even modest tremors may be felt hundreds of miles away (en.wikipedia.org).

Intraplate faulting:
The earthquake stemmed from fault activity within the tectonic plate—likely associated with the Ramapo Fault system. Though this fault is ancient and rarely active, it remains the region’s most studied seismic structure (azat.tv, wvutoday.wvu.edu, en.wikipedia.org). USGS seismologist Xan Davidson explained such minor intraplate quakes rarely cause damage but serve as a reminder of regional seismicity (azat.tv).

Geography & Affected Areas

3. Geography & Affected Areas

Epicentral Area & Tri-State Regions

  • Bergen County, NJ: Closest to epicenter in Hasbrouck Heights—many reported brief rattles lasting up to 2 seconds (RLS Media)

  • New York City: Felt across Manhattan (especially Hell’s Kitchen), Bronx (Riverdale), Brooklyn, and Staten Island. One Staten Island resident described it as louder than a vehicle crash, with noticeable floor sway—even amid low-rise neighborhoods (New York Post)

  • New Jersey suburbs: Nutley and Harrison residents reported similar jarring sensations; in Nutley, one witness said the house felt like being hit by a car (New York Post)

  • Connecticut: Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, and Danbury residents have reported tremors (CT Insider)

  • Virginia: Minor shaking possibly detected as far south as 65 miles away from the epicenter (CBS News)

Eyewitness Experiences & Social Media Buzz
Eyewitness Experiences & Social Media Buzz

4. Eyewitness Experiences & Social Media Buzz

Hundreds turned to social platforms to confirm shaking. Notably, the Empire State Building’s official X post quipped "I AM FINE", capturing the moment's light-hearted tone amid widespread unease (NBC New York).

Among notable comments:

  • A Brooklyn homeowner stated, “The table rattled and I thought a truck hit the building.”

  • Another said it “felt like a brief rumble, brief but weird.”

  • In Staten Island, one homeowner reported a loud boom followed by house swaying even during a movie night (en.wikipedia.org, New York Post).

5. Comparison with the April 2024 4.8 Earthquake

In contrast, the April 2024 4.8-magnitude earthquake near Whitehouse Station, NJ, had far more impact:

  • Felt by an estimated 42 million people from NYC to Maine and Washington, D.C.; minor structural damage, flight delays, and temporary emergency responses followed (abcnews.go.com, en.wikipedia.org)

  • Ground motion was more prolonged and intense, causing brief subsidence-related damage in NYC schools, Newark homes, and local infrastructure—none reported for the current quake (en.wikipedia.org, abcnews.go.com)

The difference in scale illustrates just how noticeable even mild tremors can feel, especially in regions like NYC.

Seismological & Geological Insights
Seismological & Geological Insights

6. Seismological & Geological Insights

Ramapo Fault System Key Details

  • The Ramapo Fault Zone spans the Newark Basin and Highlands across NJ, NY, and PA—formed during the breakup of Pangaea ~200 million years ago (en.wikipedia.org)

  • Despite being mapped, few earthquakes can be definitively linked due to complex underground fault branching and sparse seismic history (en.wikipedia.org).

Insights from Rutgers Scientists

Rutgers researchers’ network of over 100 solar-powered seismometers helps monitor region-wide microquakes and builds the best current image of local fault structure (rutgers.edu).

7. Aftershock Probability & Expert Guidance

USGS responses included:

  • 60% chance of at least one aftershock ≥ 3.0 magnitude within 1 week

  • 9% chance of a magnitude ≥ 4.0 event

  • 84% chance of additional ≥ 3.0 aftershocks within a month (AP News, foxweather.com)

Seismologists advise residents to:

  • Monitor DOYFI (“Did You Feel It?”) maps online and report any tremors (earthquake.usgs.gov)

  • Check homes for minor shifts: picture frames, crockery, or wall cracks

  • Secure heavy furniture and items near windows

  • Recognize safe places inside, such as behind sturdy tables and away from glass.

  • Report serious concerns to local emergency services via 311 or 911 as appropriate (ABC7 New York).

Risk Assessment & Preparedness Tips
Risk Assessment & Preparedness Tips

8. Risk Assessment & Preparedness Tips

Though the quake caused no damage, experts reiterate that preparedness is key:

Risk Level:

  • Low likelihood of structural damage from magnitude 3.0

  • Tremor more noticeable due to shallow depth and local geology

  • No injuries or property damage reported across NYC, NJ, or CT (New York Post)

Preparedness Steps:

  • Familiarize family with earthquake safety plans

  • Anchor bookshelves and tall furniture to walls

  • Keep emergency kits accessible (water, flashlight, first aid)

  • Review building safety especially for older structures

  • Stay informed via NYC Emergency Management and USGS alerts

9. Historical Context

  • The 1783 New Jersey earthquake (magnitude ~5.3) stands as one of the strongest historic quakes in the region, felt from as far away as Philadelphia and New Hampshire (The Independent, en.wikipedia.org)

  • Though rare, earthquakes of magnitude ≥ 4 occur occasionally—affirming the need for awareness in the densely populated East Coast (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)

The July 2025 event, while small, underscores this ongoing but infrequent seismic risk.

Live Coverage & Visuals
Live Coverage & Visuals

10. Live Coverage & Visuals

Watch live and reported footage → (YouTube, YouTube, YouTube)

News outlets offered real-time reactions, interviews, and official updates:

  • WMTW-TV report: “3.0M Earthquake rattles New Jersey, felt in New York City” (YouTube)

  • CBS New York: “Earthquake tremors felt in parts of New York and New Jersey” (YouTube)

  • FOX Weather coverage: post-quake analysis and expert guidance (YouTube)

These videos capture neighborhood reactions and illustrate the broader community response.

11. Why This Matters for DailyAlerts.Online

As a trusted source for timely emergency updates, we emphasize accurate, expert-backed reporting. This event may be minor globally, but within our urban environments, every tremor reminds us:

  • How vulnerable dense settlements are—even to small seismic shifts

  • The effectiveness of public alert systems (e.g. NYC Emergency Management X posts)

  • The need for continued vigilance and preparedness in regions not typically associated with earthquakes

✅ Summary Table

Topic Detail
Earthquake Magnitude 3.0
Epicenter Hasbrouck Heights, NJ (~8 miles west of NYC)
Depth ~6.2 miles (10 km)
Affected Areas NYC boroughs, NJ suburbs, CT, VA
Sensation Loud “boom,” brief sway lasting ~1–2 sec
Fault System Likely Ramapo Fault system (intraplate faulting)
Aftershock Probability ~60% within week for ≥ 3.0M; 9% for ≥ 4.0M
Damage Reported None
Advice Check for shifted items, secure furnishings, be hazard-aware
Historical Reference Strongest local quake was magnitude 4.8 in April 2024

🎯 Final Note

While not causing damage, this earthquake served as a timely reminder of our region’s seismic potential and the importance of preparedness—even where tremors are rare. At DailyAlerts.Online, we continue to track aftershock activity and community updates. If you felt shaking or observed unusual activity, share your experience via official DYFI reports or local emergency services.

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