In the wake of a sudden and surprising earthquake felt across the New York City metropolitan area on Friday, April 5, residents are ripping apart the city’s emergency alert system.
Shortly before 10:30 a.m., a 4.8-magnitude earthquake rippled out from the Lebanon, New Jersey area and was felt in parts of Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut, too.
But the emergency alert system didn’t warn about the event until approximately 40 minutes later, startling people in the vicinity with a loud and persistent alarm to warn them, “4.7 magnitude earthquake has occurred in the NYC area. Residents are advised to remain indoors and to call 911 if injured.”
Cell phone screenshot via Sammi Burke
Recipients of the message were less than grateful for the 40-minute post-earthquake resource and took to Twitter to point out how unhelpful the alert was—not to mention how ill-prepared it makes the city seem for a future emergency .
One called the delay “so on brand for humanity,” while plenty of others drew attention its complete ineffectiveness.