Finding Fault with Earthquake Emergency Alert Delay

With many New Yorkers expressing concern over the nearly two-hour delay in receiving an initial Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) after Friday’s 4.8-magnitude earthquake, State Senator Monica R. Martinez introduced legislation this week to ensure NY-Alerts are issued in a timely manner.  During and after natural or man-made incidents, these notifications are used to inform the public of critical information and the steps they need to take to protect their safety.

“Ensuring the timely dissemination of NY-Alerts is crucial in safeguarding the well-being of our communities during times of crisis,” said Senator Martinez.  “During an emergency, every second counts.  Getting vital information to those impacted is extremely time-dependent, and any unnecessary delay can potentially threaten their safety.”

Senator Martinez’s proposal will require NY-Alerts to be issued within thirty minutes of a disaster or state disaster emergency or as soon as practicable depending on the circumstances of the situation.

On Friday, the strongest earthquake to hit the region in the past 140 years struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, around 10:23 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.  The quake was felt across southeastern New York State, including Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley and was confirmed by the US Geological Survey at 10:34 a.m. However, New York's WEA system didn't issue any notifications until 12:05 p.m., with messages first appearing at various times on people’s phones thereafter.