Some news reports suggest that a large earthquake is “due” in New York City because moderate ones with a magnitude of 5 or more typically occur every few hundred years.
The earthquake that hit the Northeast on Friday morning rattled nerves but did not do much damage. Still, it left many New Yorkers wondering how afraid they should be of a bigger one hitting closer to the city. The answer? It’s hard to say. Some news reports suggest that a large earthquake is “due” in New York City because moderate ones — with a magnitude of 5 or more — typically occur every few hundred years. The last one took place in the 1700s. Friday’s earthquake, in comparison, was a magnit