The United States Geological Survey did not record any earthquakes in the area around the time, dismissing all speculation that the shaking was caused by an earthquake. USGS, in a statement to USA TODAY said that shaking in northeast New Jersey and Staten Island was reported but "an examination of the seismic data in the area showed no evidence of an earthquake."
"The USGS has no direct evidence of the source of the shaking," the statement said. "Past reports of shaking with no associated seismic signal have had atmospheric origins such as sonic booms or weather-related phenomena."