April 05, 2024

Live broadcasts, home videos capture earthquake confusion by people and pets

There were no reports of serious injuries or major damage — making the tremor ripe for memes, jokes and theories.

By Michaela Althouse
PhillyVoice Staff

Chris Pedota/Northjersey.com/USA Today Network

A magnitude 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit the region Friday morning. There were no reported injuries and only minor damage, like the above retaining wall in Oldwick, New Jersey.

At 10:24 a.m., the region got a little jittery — and it wasn't a Friday morning coffee buzz.

While the 4.8-magnitude earthquake could be felt from Boston to Washington, D.C., as of Friday evening there were no reports of serious injuries or major damage — making the rare Northeast tremor ripe for memes, jokes and wild theories, including from Philly drag queen Sapphira Cristál.

MORE: 4.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Philly and surrounding region | Montgomery County man goes viral for getting vasectomy during earthquake

I feel the Earth Move Under My Feet!!🎵 #earthquake #godzilla?
— Sapphira Cristál (@sapphiracristal) April 5, 2024

Videos from Philly to New York City were posted. The Statue of Liberty's webcam captured the moment, and in one clip, a dog seemed to know what was happening a few seconds before the quake.

Watching the #earthquake from the Statue of Liberty webcam via @earthcam #NYC pic.twitter.com/6JTqWqT3TF
— Dan Martland (@DanTVusa) April 5, 2024

🔥🔥- A new video from a New Jersey home shows the house shaking strongly during an earthquake, with the family dog sensing it a few seconds before pic.twitter.com/XbJpyxcAHT
— Tina Zimmermann (@TinaZimmermann4) April 5, 2024

Jeff Caplan is from New Jersey.

His buddy sent him video of the #earthquake from the epicenter.

You can see the owner in the background. pic.twitter.com/QbwoQMS2Pq
— Dave Noriega (@davenoriega) April 5, 2024

Earthquake caught on camera on Long Island, NY 🙂 pic.twitter.com/WJ3JFqQYRC
— Josh (@The4thGenGamer) April 5, 2024

A few morning shows also had footage in real-time.

Footage of the earthquake during The Preston & Steve Show live on @933WMMR in Philadelphia/Bala Cynwyd, PA.

*the mic boom is clearly shaking at the beginning* pic.twitter.com/AcSDV9t2Eq
— The Preston & Steve Show (@PrestonSteve933) April 5, 2024

MLB Network was live during the earthquake pic.twitter.com/IRyQ2Ysmet
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 5, 2024

The cats did NOT enjoy this earthquake 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/gEckly5wJ3
— ksh1zzle15 ✌🏼 (@kjax1515) April 5, 2024

I can confirm that the earthquake woke my cat up from her mid-morning nap…#earthquake #earthquakeny #Tragedy pic.twitter.com/hVsE7zu77t
— Rachael Sunday (@rsundayr) April 5, 2024

Some locals couldn't help but find a sports connection, linking the quake to the new Phillies City Connect jerseys that dropped Friday morning.

The Phillies City Connect jerseys are so bad that everyone in Philly jumped up and down in ager and caused an earthquake on the east coast.
— Mark Primiano (@Doctor1Hundred) April 5, 2024

That earthquake was God telling us how much he hates the Phillies city connect jerseys
— Fink Von Bro Dude (@ericjfink) April 5, 2024

Others were quick to point out that this happened days before the scheduled eclipse, implying that the cosmos might be a little mad at us.

Between earthquakes, eclipses and the cicadas, I have trust issues
— Hater Supreme (@jetnotplanes) April 5, 2024

did we shake or were we shook? #earthquake pic.twitter.com/JkJPkTkN2h
— Christopher Ryan (@Creezus_) April 5, 2024

the earthquakes across the globe coinciding with the eclipse. the old gods are coming. the old gods are here to tell you to stop doing work already and go bike around and listen to some music
— lounger150 (@coldsleeve) April 5, 2024

But there were also reminders that we're still all in one piece.