Natural Disasters

[dekeoy]

Might not be the right time or the right topic, but I had a thought. Out of all the Natural Disasters in this country that could harm you or your property, wouldn't you think that having a hurricane would be the one you'd rather face. And also in thought, there is nowhere in this country that you could hide and not be faced with the possibility of having a natural disater of some sort.
Think of it.

Earthquakes..........Absolutely NO warning

Tornando..........Maybe a watch, but not much time to pack and leave if there's a warning. Not to mention if you are asleep when it hits.

Flash Flood.........Also maybe a warning, but are you going to pack up and leave anytime theres a possibility? You'd be unemployed.

Blizzard.....Same as flood.

Hurricane.......Can see it coming close to you, many days in advance., as well as many professional people telling you what you should be doing and then what you should do. Lots of time to pack and leave, unless you wait till the last minute.


As the post states, if I had to endure any natural disaster, it's be a hurricane, and while I don't like them, I don't know of anything else I'd like to face, or have the time to run from. Unfortunately, in my line of work, (Law enforcement), running isn't an option unless I want to be jobless. So I devise a plan with my wife, for her, our two children and three dogs, and hope for the best. Just remember, it could be alot worse and never have seen this thing coming.

[PurdueWx80]

I would have to throw volcano eruptions onto your list as well. It's been a while since the continental US has seen one, but they are still very much possible. The scariest scenario would be if Mt. Ranier or Baker erupted in Washington. There is a lot of snow and ice up on those volcanoes - if they erupt that would be one GIANT wall of mud and water flowing into the Seattle area. They would have little to no warning of that either.

I think tornadoes are the scariest since they are so small but destructive.

[dekeoy]

I knew I'd miss one or probably more. Didn;t think about mudslides/avalanches either. I'm sure there are others too

[Wolfman21]

yeah, id much rather a hurricane come. Atleast u can leave before they hit u

[SootyTern]

dekeyoy-

I agree. Was in Santa Cruz, CA for the 1989 earthquake; going about your daily business then suddenly your world is collapsing around you. You hope you just happen to be in a well-engineered building (I was) .

The aftershocks mess with your sense of reality-please let the ground stop moving for longer than 15 minutes at a time! I appreciate the lead time for hurricanes, and that it is something that you can see coming at you, and leaving after awhile.

It is also a plus IMO to have a discrete season for being on guard. Since an earthquake can happen at any time, if you focus on it you go insane. Supplies get old and stale if not replentished. August 24/whatever first cane there is that year are great motivators to renew moderately perishable hurricane supplies annually. Otherwise you end up with no electricity for days, wondering why your batteries you bought 5 years ago don't work now!

[Ixolib]

...and let's not forget those famous Florida sinkholes. They kinda appear without warning too!!

[Guest]

I have to say that an asteroid is the worst. A decent sized asteroid (above 100 ft long) would cause a tidal wave in the ocean, and that would hit land. It would probably be about 20-30 foot high. An asteroid above a mile is nothing to mess with. it would probably end the world. But what can you do? (launch nukes at it and hit it with all we've gopt obviously )

[dekeoy]

Ah, had not thought of the asteroid! By the way, when was the last major impact from one of them things? (Joke), Anyway, I see where this topic is going from here, but I thought it was a good one to start.

[Ixolib]

Ah, had not thought of the asteroid! By the way, when was the last major impact from one of them things? (Joke), Anyway, I see where this topic is going from here, but I thought it was a good one to start.

Actually, Dekeoy - it was excellent one to start. And I agree with your intent. I'll take a hurricane anyday over just about any other natural disaster. Couldn't imagine living in OK and have a tornado wake me up at 2:15am with absolutely no warning or idea that it was coming. Great topic - thanks.

[clueless newbie]

Ha! A nearby star going supernova is the ultimater disaster.

Of the disasters mentioned above, blizzards are certainly the easiest to handle. Just go inside as in for hurricane. When it is over, everything outside is nicely white, instead of the mess left after a hurricane.

Earthquakes, volcanoes and remnants of tropical systems nothwistanding, I still prefer the eternal spring of the altiplano in central Mexico.

[Sean in New Orleans]

As someone who has been through a hurricane and an earthquake, I would prefer an earthquake. A hurricane is like a 12 hour earthquake. And a blizzard isn't even in the same leaque as a hurricane--I've been in those, as well, and they are nothing.

[Derecho]

Besides the whole asteroid threat, ALL other natural disaster threats to the US pale in comparison to earthquakes and hurricanes.

The chance of a given house in Oklahoma being destroyed by a tornado in a 100 year period is microscopic; a tiny, tiny, tiny threat compared to the chance of a house in CA or South FL being destroyed by a quake or hurricane.

The whole Midwest tornado thing is often brought up to attempt to make the claim that disaster risk is spread equally around the country; it surely isn't, and politically we have to address why someone in Podunk South Dakota should subsidize insurance for people in other areas in the future.

It SEEMS like there are constant tornadoes in the midwest but the tracks of each are so incredibly narrow.

[dekeoy]

I was comparing "Natural Disasters" only as natural disasters. NOT the destruction they impose. (But actually, if you';re from the south and get caught offguard in a blizzard, I could see where the "fear" factor would take over). As far as destruction, no, I don't think any of them would be equal, or if you would even be able to compare them.
And I have only been through hurricanes, (other than water spouts while fishing), and being born and raised right here in Wilmington, NC, I have seen my fair share of hurricanes. I can't grasp the concept of an earthquake, and would think it'd be much more terrifying than a hurricane. But as I said, never been through one, so I can't comment on it.