Here are some details on the New York earthquake this morning:

NEIS gives the parameters as:

02/04/20 10:50:44 44.51N 73.66W 5.0 5.1M A NEW YORK

This is the largest earthquake ever to be recorded within 50 km of this epicenter.
The previous record was held by a Ml 5.0 on April 10, 1962.
That earthquake was felt over an area of 20,000 square miles of Vermont, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York with damage at Intensity V.

Source: U.S. Earthquakes, 1962, Lander and Cloud.

Now before anyone starts saying earthquakes can't be predicted because "nobody
Saw this one coming", consider the following statements made in the past two
Days on this public board regarding the possibility of an event at this time in
The region of New York/Quebec/New England:

THE DAILY EARTHQUAKE SUMMARY:

The Daily Earthquake summary for April 18 had noted the possibility of effects
From the geomagnetic storm in this region, as had the far-field forecast from
The Mw 6.7 in Northern Chile and the Mw 6.3 in Mexico two days ago.

The Daily earthquake summary had noted:

"The most unusual event recorded in the U.S./Canada since the last
summary was posted was a Ml 2.0 near Quebec City, Quebec. This event
occurred towards the end of the first geomagnetic storm. This region
often shows strong effects including blackouts and downed power during
strong geomagnetic events."

http://www.earthwaves.org/wwwboard/messages/15004.html

To keep your eye on the area, a mention of the foreshock yesterday was made
In last night's daily earthquake summary:

" earthquakes also occurred in the eastern U.S. - one
a Ml 2.2 on the New York/Quebec border"

FAR-FIELD EFFECTS AND FORECASTS:

The earthquake in New York this morning was apparently a Far-field aftershock
(FFA) from both the events in northern Chile and the Mexico event of 18 April.
It occurred at 71.94 degrees from northern Chile and at half that distance from
Guerrero, Mexico (35.77 degrees). The effect of both these on the region of New
York and New England had been noted in the far-field forecast posted yesterday.

http://www.earthwaves.org/wwwboard/messages/15009.html

The far-field forecast from the Mw 6.7 in Northern Chile had stated:

The following areas are expected to see increased seismicity
from April 19 through April 29, 2002. Maximum event size for
these regions is expected to increase by 0.5 to 0.7 magnitude units
in this period.

From Chile:

"71-73 degrees:…… southern New England, N.Y."

and (towards the end):

"Seismic activity may increase at:

… Southern New England"

From Guerrero, Mexico
"34-36 degrees: …New England"

Source:

http://www.earthwaves.org/wwwboard/messages/15009.html

News account of this event can be found at:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020420/ap_wo_en_ge/us_northeast_quake_3&printer=1

• New York Earthquake