In the aftermath of the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, and was felt across the tri-state area, New York City’s response—or perceived lack thereof—has sparked criticism. The tremor, which occurred at approximately 10:23 a.m., prompted a delayed reaction from city officials, with the first emergency alert from the Notify NYC system not reaching residents until 10:47 a.m., 24 minutes later, while some people reported receiving alarms up to three hours after the event.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management, led by Zachary Iscol, defended the timing, emphasizing the need for confirmation and proper guidance before issuing alerts. Iscol highlighted the complexity of differentiating actual earthquakes from other causes of tremors and the necessity of ensuring public safety instructions are accurate and timely. Despite these justifications, the initial and subsequent alerts—aimed at informing of the earthquake and potential aftershocks—were criticized for their lateness.
Public officials, including Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, voiced concerns over the delayed alerts, suggesting that in a more severe incident, the consequences could be much more dire. Social media users echoed these sentiments, lampooning the city’s administration for what they perceived as a lackluster emergency response system. Some comments humorously noted the inefficacy of receiving an alert well after experiencing the earthquake.
Mayor Eric Adams and his administration sought to reassure the public, emphasizing the efforts of first responders and the lack of major impacts or injuries reported. Adams also urged New Yorkers to follow safety protocols during aftershocks.
This incident has galvanized conversation about the effectiveness and timing of emergency alerts, a system federal and local governments have been working to fine tune for decades; who could ever forget when residents of Hawaii were told they were under imminent nuclear attack? As technology and social media continue to accelerate the pace at which information is expected, the challenge for emergency management teams lies in balancing the necessity for swift communication with the demands of accuracy and utility.
