Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey faced criticism for not returning to the state after a historic earthquake left residents rattled. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew expressed disappointment that Murphy did not issue an on-camera address to residents, instead opting for TV and phone interviews. Residents were forced to look to New York leadership for guidance during the natural disaster rather than their own governor. Van Drew suggested that Murphy could have easily traveled back to New Jersey to assure residents that they were safe during the earthquake. He emphasized the importance of leaders being present for their constituents during times of crisis.
The earthquake, measuring at least 4.8 magnitude, struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. It was the largest earthquake New Jersey had experienced in almost a century and a half. Despite the relatively minor impact compared to earthquakes in other states such as California, Van Drew highlighted the symbolic significance of Murphy’s absence. He suggested that Murphy could have taken a brief break from the Democratic convention he was attending to reassure residents that everything was going to be okay. The event was felt by more than 42 million people in 14 states, with over two-dozen aftershocks reported since its occurrence.
Van Drew criticized Murphy for not being present in New Jersey during the earthquake, noting that residents had to rely on New York officials for guidance. While Murphy conducted interviews with various media outlets following the event, Van Drew believed that an on-camera address to residents would have been more reassuring. He expressed his disappointment in Murphy’s absence, stressing the importance of leaders being physically present during times of crisis. Van Drew believed that Murphy missed an opportunity to show his constituents that he was there for them during a difficult situation.
Murphy’s office has not responded to the criticisms yet. The governor stated on social media that the state’s emergency operations center was deactivated on Saturday morning, indicating that there were no reports of major damage to structures, roadways, or infrastructure as a result of the earthquake. Despite this, the earthquake was significant enough to be felt by a large number of Americans across multiple states. More than 152,000 individuals reported experiencing shaking to the US Geological Survey, highlighting the widespread impact of the event. It remains to be seen how Murphy will address the criticisms and concerns raised by his absence during the earthquake.
In conclusion, Governor Phil Murphy faced backlash for not returning to New Jersey after a historic earthquake struck the region. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew criticized Murphy for not reassuring residents in person during the natural disaster, highlighting the importance of leaders being present for their constituents during times of crisis. The earthquake, measured at least 4.8 magnitude, had a significant impact on residents across multiple states, with many feeling the effects. Despite the lack of major damage reported, the earthquake was a rare occurrence for New Jersey and left many questioning the governor’s absence during the event. Murphy’s office has yet to respond to the criticisms, leaving uncertainty about how they will address the situation moving forward.
