HARTFORD, Conn. – Emergency management officials said critical infrastructure inspections are being conducted across the state following a weak earthquake Friday morning.
“At the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), we are addressing this issue the same way we would respond to any potential emergency,” said Deputy Secretary Brenda Bergeron, who heads the department. “There is,” he said. “We are using the provincial response framework. We are investigating any significant damage that municipalities are aware of through their local offices. There are no reports of significant damage at this time. .”
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Whitehouse Station in New Jersey at around 10:23 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The U.S. said the quake was the largest in the eastern United States since 1950, and was felt across the region, with reports from Washington, D.C., in the south to Canada in the north. Earthquakes in the eastern United States are infrequent, but they do occur. At least 40 earthquakes have been recorded in this area over the past 75 years.
Bergeron said the state's industry is currently assessing the damage, but the state's only nuclear power plant, Millstone, continues to operate at 100% capacity and no damage has been reported. However, the power company said it was checking to see if any power lines were down. The Department of Administrative Services is investigating whether any state buildings have been damaged.
Bergeron said Amtrak and Metro-North have reported slow speeds in some areas and are continuing to inspect tracks for damage. Service has resumed at Bradley International Airport, which had been temporarily suspended to allow for visual inspection by employees and state police.
“While we are monitoring and do not see any significant damage, we are partially operational and continue to work with our state, local, federal, and private sector partners to keep everyone safe.” ,” Bergeron said. .
A state bridge is a state highway bridge. The Department of Transportation said it is conducting visual inspections across the state. So far, no concerns have been reported from the field, but inspectors are investigating high-rise structures such as the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, the Putnam Bridge, and Interstate 84/Route 8 Mixmaster in Waterbury, as well as stacked highways. is focused on.
“The Department of Transportation has a system in place to figure out which bridges have the most traffic and which ones should be looked at, and those bridges are considered first,” Bergeron said in response to questions. Stated. How DOT prioritizes which bridges to check first. “The only thing I've personally heard so far is that, anecdotally, some people may be seeing a little bit of cracking in certain places, but I haven't heard anything structural at this point. As such, we are still doing a partial activation and continue to monitor it to make sure there are no major issues.”
Last year, CT Public reported that more than 200 bridges in the state were rated in poor condition, representing 5% of all bridges tracked by the federal government. Hundreds more bridges are in need of repair, and at least two-thirds of all bridges in the state are at least 50 years old.
DOT Spokesperson Samaia Hernandez said that of the bridges in poor condition on the list, the DOT is incorporating them into existing projects or planning them for future projects. . He added that for municipal structures, towns are notified when bridges are inspected every two years and are encouraged to apply to the state for funding for repairs. But the state cannot force municipalities to repair structures, she said.
Aside from public infrastructure, DEMHS officials also reminded Connecticut residents to make sure their property is not damaged.
“I'm sure many of you have gone to work or school, so when you get home, do a quick assessment of your home or other structure. If you notice any cracks, contact your municipal emergency management officer. ,” said Josh Cingranelli, DEMHS emergency management specialist and meteorologist.
If you are concerned about damage to your home or other structures, contact your local emergency management officer.
