Residents in the New York tri-state area were left shaken after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit the area, causing confusion and uncertainty among many. However, for those who are from quake-prone areas such as Taiwan and California, where earthquakes are a regular occurrence, the temblor didn’t come as much of a surprise. SueAnn Shiah, a Taiwanese American, emphasized the importance of government preparedness and safety instruction, noting that in Taiwan, earthquake safety is a regular part of life, with the island having a robust early warning system, modern seismic building codes, and upgraded infrastructure prompted by a deadly earthquake in 1999.
Those with family and friends in quake-prone areas like Taiwan are accustomed to receiving alerts and information before and after earthquakes, providing a sense of preparedness and reassurance in the face of unpredictable events. In contrast, the relative rareness of earthquakes on the East Coast left many caught off guard. Kalaya’an Mendoza, a community safety activist from New York, pointed out the lack of preparedness in the city compared to places like California, where earthquake safety measures are ingrained from a young age. Despite the lack of government communication following the recent earthquake, many Asian American and diaspora circles have rushed to participate in community care, emphasizing the need for the government to ensure the safety of its people in times of natural disasters.
Brooklyn-based journalist, Melissa Hung, reflected on the chilling proximity of the earthquake in New Jersey to the recent massive quake in Taiwan, highlighting concerns about climate change affecting Asian communities. She noted that climate change could intensify the effects of natural disasters and create climate refugees, particularly in coastal and island areas where sea levels are rising. While the New Jersey quake was the strongest recorded in the Northeast in over a decade, individuals from earthquake hot spots like the West Coast were unfazed, with many knowing exactly what to do and how to respond due to their previous experiences with tremors.
Despite the lack of government preparedness and communication, New Yorkers are known for their resiliency and ability to navigate emergencies with a sense of humor. Cameron Kim, a transplant from the Bay Area, calmly reacted to the earthquake by warning his girlfriend to take cover, while Bing Guan, a photographer from Los Angeles, barely registered the relatively small tremor while in Manhattan. The memes that began to circulate on social media following the earthquake served as a reminder of New Yorkers’ ability to bounce back from any challenge. Overall, the recent earthquake in the New York tri-state area highlighted the importance of government preparedness and the resilience of individuals from quake-prone areas in the face of natural disasters.
