Hunterdon County, N.J., Reports No Injuries, Major Damage From Quake

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ— Hunterdon County found itself at the epicenter of Friday morning's 4.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck at 10:23 a.m. on the Ramapo fault line in Tewksbury Township and radiated out throughout the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, including New York City.

Township officials reported that numerous aftershocks followed the initial quake with the most recent occurring at 6 p.m. Friday. Buildings shook throughout the county sending everyone to social media to find out what happened.

Following the earthquake, the county's 911 Communications Center was met with significant call volume and expanded immediately to full staffing to meet the demand.

“I am grateful for the quick response by our local first responders, Office of Emergency Management, and county staff that have been involved in the ongoing response to the reported earthquake," said Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl. "Thankfully, at this time, there have been no reported injuries or major damage sustained by residents, businesses, and local governments. We will continue to stay in regular contact with municipal officials until all inspections and reporting is finished.”

Damage assessment was underway on Friday throughout the county, and there have been some reports of structural issues on private properties. A link has been placed on the county website to capture reports from the public of damage. Residents and businesses are advised that they must contact their insurance companies first, but to help county officials track damage, click here.

Hunterdon County activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate information and resource needs throughout the community. The EOC is comprised of county departments and divisions and supporting organizations, that are coordinating with municipal offices of emergency management, municipal elected officials, and others at the local level.

The county reported that its staff has assessed facilities and infrastructure and reported that all essential services are operating without interruption. Hunterdon Medical Center reported no damage to its facility and coordination with all utilities that service the county are reporting no present issues.

Additionally, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has inspected bridges connecting New Jersey to Pennsylvania from Hunterdon County with no damage identified.

The New Jersey Water Supply Authority is also conducting structural assessments on the dams at the Round Valley and Spruce Run Reservoirs. No issues have been reported to county offices as of early Friday afternoon. There are local road closures in the area of Round Valley to allow for inspections to safely be conducted.

Residents can refer to the Hunterdon County website and social media channels for specific details and up-to-date information.