Broadcasting veteran Al Roker experienced a sudden jolt while on the set of the ‘Today’ show, due to an earthquake that hit the New York City region on Friday, April 5.
“I’m sitting in my office at my dressing room here at 30 Rockefeller,” he explained in a video he uploaded on Instagram. “And we were having a discussion about a great project that you’re going to find out about on the Today show, and then suddenly, there was this movement.”
“Our food team here, Craig Melvin across the way,” Roker mentioned, showing the camera his coworkers.
Reflecting on the moment, he said, “My dressing room is right above the prop area and I felt this shaking. I thought, ‘What is happening?’ And our food stylist Katie Stilo thought it was just the props being moved around.”
“I’ve felt them move props before, but this was different,” Roker, 69, remarked, “Then, it dawned on us that it was an earthquake and we started to hear from all these people.”
“So, uh, where were you?” Roker asked his audience. “Did you notice the quake?”
He mentioned that they needed to check with the U.S. Geological Survey for more details after noticing comments on social media regarding the unexpected incident.
Viewers from different locations, including Upstate New York, reported feeling the tremors, to Roker’s amazement. “They felt it in Oswego!” he announced, clearly awe-struck. “Oh my gosh!”
“This is incredible,” the famed weatherman stated. “We just had an earthquake.”
Roker also expressed his amazement in his Instagram video’s caption, writing: “Wow!!!!! Earthquake. From as far north as Oswego, NY to as far south as Southern NJ.”
Per the data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), it was a 4.8 magnitude quake originating from New Jersey that struck at about 10:30 a.m. local time, affecting areas like Long Island, Connecticut, Upstate New York, and even as far as Philadelphia and Rhode Island.
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FAQ
Q: What magnitude was the earthquake that Al Roker felt?
A: The earthquake had a magnitude of 4.8.
Q: Where did the earthquake originate?
A: The earthquake originated from New Jersey.
Q: How far was the earthquake felt?
A: It was felt in Long Island, Connecticut, Upstate New York, and as far as Philadelphia and Rhode Island.
Q: Did Al Roker share a video of his reaction?
A: Yes, Al Roker shared a video on Instagram capturing his reaction to the earthquake.
Q: What was Al Roker doing when the earthquake happened?
A: Al Roker was in his dressing room at 30 Rockefeller discussing a project for the ‘Today’ show.
Conclusion
Al Roker’s unexpected encounter with the mid-morning earthquake on the ‘Today’ show set serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of such natural phenomena. His candid reaction, broadcast on social media, connected viewers not only to his personal experience but also to the wider community’s responses to the quake. It’s moments like these that highlight the role of media personalities in sharing real-time events, adding a personal touch to the news that resonates with audiences far and wide.