WATCH: St. Senator Pushes For Emergency Alert Changes After Earthquake

BRENTWOOD, NY — One state senator from Long Island is not happy with how it took emergency alerts to reach residents amid last week's 4.8 magnitude earthquake.

Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) said there was initially confusion as to what caused the rattling, as cell phone alerts were delayed for up more than 90 minutes.

Martinez said the USGS put out its alert 11 minutes after the earthquake took place at 10:34 a.m. on April 5, however, "New York got there's at 12:05."

That time stamp was the impetus to seek change.

"This is how the bill came to be, but this is all about public safety," Martinez told Patch. "That fact that it was two hours after the fact is unacceptable."

Martinez's legislation calls for New Yorkers to receive alerts during emergencies within 30 minutes "or depending on the event that is happening it has to be practical to that event."

While no one was injured from the earthquake, Martinez knows the quicker an alert is disseminated to the public in the future, the more likely lives can be saved.

"Any unnecessary delay can potentially threaten the safety of our residents," she said.

With a co-sponsored bill in the Assembly, Martinez wants it on Gov. Hochul's desk for her signature as soon as possible.

"I have not seen any opposition. If anything, I've seen support for it," Martinez said. "So, I'm hoping to get it past the finish line for this year."

Watch the full "Patch Weekly Spotlight" interview with Sen. Martinez below.