Unexpected U.S. State Shaken by Three Earthquakes in Three Days

These were no ordinary tremors either, registering between 1.0 and 1.4 on the Richter scale, leaving residents both concerned and puzzled about what’s happening beneath their feet.

This event was the most intense the East Coast has witnessed since 2011, according to the US Geological Survey.

This is where the largest quake since 1884 originated, triggering a series of aftershocks that have kept the area on edge.

The first, a stronger 1.4 magnitude, was quickly followed by a lighter 1.0 shake, making it a nerve-racking start to the week for locals.

This marked the third significant tremor in this unusual series of events.

On August 20, three weak earthquakes hit portions of New Jersey and northern New York State within 16 minutes of each other.

This was the fourth weak earthquake that hit this area within a week. The next two struck near the border between the U.S. and Canada by Upstate New York. None of the magnitudes were beyond 1.8.

East Coast quakes are harder to predict and tend to impact a broader area. This is because the East Coast’s colder, harder rocks spread the rattling of the earthquake more efficiently.

However, the shallow depth of these quakes made them noticeable even though they were smaller.

Earth sciences professor Robert Thorson said: “It’s like having a big black of ice in a vise and you are just slowly cranking up the vise. Eventually, you’re going to get some crackling on it.”

In Gladstone, the depths varied—one quake started five miles down and another shockingly close, at less than a mile beneath the surface.

It is no surprise people in Califon felt these tremors. Earthquakes that reach 43 miles or less below the ground’s surface are considered shallow.

The community remains alert but relieved, as local authorities continue to monitor the situation.

It’s a tense waiting game for everyone involved.

New Jersey’s recent seismic activity could be just the beginning of a longer period of adjustment underground.

Even before this latest flurry, the state recorded seven earthquakes with magnitudes of at least 1.2 from May to early June. It seems the ground under New Jersey is more restless than anyone expected.

In April, New Yorkers were selling merchandise about surviving a 4.8-magnitude quake. One person called it one of the “quickest merch turnarounds in history.”

In April, one video went viral of a New Jersey barber carrying a child to safety mid-cut when the tremors started.

The US Geological Survey has documented only about 20 quakes with magnitudes of 4.5 or higher since 1950, a stark contrast to the more frequent seismic activity on the West Coast.

The quake was centered near Mineral, Virginia. The earthquake shook residents from Georgia to Maine. Even parts of southeastern Canada were affected.

Among those damages were the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. and the U.S. Treasury building.

The West Coast has seen over 1,000 major earthquakes in the same timeframe that the East Coast has only seen 20.

The USGS says there is a risk of aftershocks for the next few weeks or months. They recommend staying informed and paying attention to emergency messaging from local officials.

If you feel shaking, drop wherever you are covering your head and neck with one arm. Crawl under a table for shelter and hold onto it.