New York City officials were battered by critics Friday after a 4.8 magnitude quake rocked the Big Apple — but it took nearly 25 minutes for an emergency alert to go out.
The quake struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, around 10:23 a.m. and was promptly felt across the tri-state area, according to the US Geological Survey.
But New York City didn’t issue an emergency Notify NYC phone alert about the tremor until 10:47 a.m.
It then also issued a WE Alert, or Wireless Emergency, message to phones at 11:02 .a.m., while the state’s WE Alert went out at 11:05 a.m. — and some residents reported still getting alerts about an earthquake after noon.
Zachary Iscol, head of the city’s Office of Emergency Management, told reporters at a press conference afterward Friday that the Adams administration needed to confirm the quake before alerting residents.
“We also need to make sure we’re putting out the proper guidance. The 20 minutes is very, very fast for a public notification,” Iscol said.
Yes, we felt it too — follow The Post’s live blog for the latest on Friday morning’s earthquake
The city’s notification said the earthquake had already occurred in the New York City area and advised residents to “remain indoors and to call 911 if injured.”
The second alert noted that “aftershocks may be felt” but “New Yorkers can continue usual activities.”
Critics were swift.
“NYC sending out an emergency alert about the earthquake 30 minutes after the earthquake is peak NYC Adams administration,” Vish Burra wrote on X.
