East Coast Residents React to Earthquake That Was Felt by Over 42 Million: 'Hope Everyone Is OK'

Mar. 15, 2025

Many living on the East Coast got quite the jolt on the morning of April 5 — and social media users responded to the surprise4.8 magnitude earthquakewith a mixture of shock, concern and humor.

“I think there was an earthquake in nyc,” actressBusy Philippswrote, whileJessica Chastainadded, “This is really nuts.Hope everyone is okand that our buildings weren’t damaged."

According to the New York City Fire Department, there were “no major incidents" reported as a result of the quake, and sure enough, the Empire State Building made it through unscathed. “I AM FINE,”the landmark wrote on X.

People walk through lower Manhattan moments after New York City and parts of New Jersey experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake on April 5.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Over 42 million people likely felt the impact from the earthquake, according to theAssociated Press— and many who did took to social media to offer their hot takes, memes and plenty of jokes.

“Train just stopped in the middle of a tunnel and sat for a second,”one X user wrotein an only-in-New York-style vignette. “Somebody said ‘There was an earthquake.’  Nobody said anything for a second as the train kept sitting and a guy goes ‘Man, f— this. I’m late for work.'"

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Another user posted a screen grab of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) fromSex and the Cityand channeled the way they thought the writer might have spoken about the quake.

“As a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit manhattan i couldn’t help but wonder…was my relationship with big structurally sound enough to withstand the impact?” Layla, a culture editor at Nylon,wrote on X.

As first responders continued to investigate damage, some residents posted their own eyewitness accounts.

“Earthquake outside my home in Union, NJ,” Dave Scipionewrote on Xalongside a video of parted paveway. “Lived 10 years in San Francisco and never felt one like this - two giant cracks in the street.”

But the ground moving hardly had an impact on one New York Yankees slugger.

“Batting practice in the middle of an earthquake? Not a problem for Gleyber Torres,”MLB wrote on Xalongside footage of the shortstop hitting balls nonstop.

And as those who lived through the moment continue to process a most unusual Friday morning, one social media usersquipped, “i love living in nyc bc the rest of the world is going to be hearing ab this earthquake all day lmao.”

source: people.com