Landlord Gets Priceless Text From Renter During New Jersey Earthquake

A renter sent a hilarious text to their landlord after mistaking an earthquake in New Jersey on Friday morning for loud upstairs neighbors.

A small earthquake rattled through the Northeast on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake hit Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and registered at a 4.8 magnitude. The USGS originally reported the quake struck Lebanon, New Jersey. Shaking was felt throughout the region, including New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

One renter living in the area mistook the earthquake for their loud upstairs neighbors and complained about the noise to their landlord.

"My tenant is complaining about the neighbors upstairs, but in reality we just had a 4.8 magnitude earthquake," Marc Gilbert posted on X, formerly Twitter, Friday morning with screenshots of the texts.

"Good morning one day this house will collapse the way the people that are living in upstairs are doing," the first text said.

A follow-up text from the renter added that their neighbors' stomping was "giving me a headache" and that the house was "shaking".

"That was an earthquake," the landlord responded.

Newsweek reached out to Gilbert through X for comment.

It's unknown how much damage, if any, has been caused by the quake. The USGS said it's not simple to predict how much damage could occur based on an earthquake's magnitude.

"There is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on, building construction, etc," the USGS said on its website. "That being said, damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5."

Newsweek reached out to the USGS by email for comment.

Following the quake, the National Weather Service (NWS) Tsunami Alerts said that a tsunami was not expected from the earthquake.

However, the shaking surprised people living in the area, and many took to social media to express their concerns. The earthquake also prompted a quick response from state and local leaders.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged people not to call 911 to report the quake unless they actually had an emergency.

"Our region just experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, with an epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County," he posted. "We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency."

New York City Deputy Mayor of Communications Fabien Levy shared what to do if aftershocks occur following the quake.

"In case of an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and take additional cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway," he said.