Earthquakes or Hurricanes? Where would you rather live?

1. 70

   Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years ago

   Being from California, I'm mostly used to earthquakes. I say "mostly" because the 1989 Loma Prieta quake was the first time I thought I might actually die. I was taking refuge under the table in my office at the time and had never felt such a rockin' and rollin' quake like that. In my head, I said my goodbyes to my family when the room went completely dark and book shelves and their contents were falling down around us. Half way through the quake, I assumed my dad was already dead. He was high up in one of the all glass highrises downtown in San Francisco's financial district and I figured there was no way the building would survive. I'm glad I was wrong.
   
   Still, I don't think I'd trade my quakes for hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms and the like in other parts of the country.
   
   So, where would you rather live? Quakes, hurricanes, etc.?

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2. 59

   Rockwell Fitnessposted 14 years ago

   I've lived through earthquakes in California
   Blizzards in New York
   Tornado in Pennsylvania
   Hurricane in North Carolina
   Sand Storm in California
   Wild Fires in California...
   
   I'll take Volcanoe eruption in Hawaii

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3. 69

   Curious Travellerposted 14 years ago

   A very difficult question for a Briton to answer, having no experience of either.
   
   We live in a country which has very little detectable seismographic activity or weather extremes.
   
   Given the choice, therefore, I am afraid that we would have to opt for neither!

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4. 81

   LondonGirlposted 14 years ago

   I'd opt for the last option - none of the above!

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5. 0

   Janettaposted 14 years ago

   I live basically in the middle of Tornado country. We are under various Tornado watches and warnings from March to October, give or take. They can be scary, but having abasement and knowing what to watch for helps. I can honestly say I would not want to have to deal with quakes, fires, hurricanes etc. We had a smallish to medium quake here a few months ago, butthey are pretty rare.

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6. 64

   aka-djposted 14 years ago

   Right here will do me nicely, thank you very much!

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7. 60

   Colebabieposted 14 years ago

   I live in Florida. I think I have gone through about a dozen hurricanes. Hurricane Andrew I was 5. We've lost power for weeks at a time when it was 100 degrees outside. We have "hurricane days" at school. I know it sounds crazy, but I love it here so much.

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8. 78

   JamaGeneeposted 14 years ago

   Of the two choices, hurricanes.  At least you have a day or two to get prepared or evacuate.  No warning whatsoever with earthquakes. I experienced a tiny tremor once that lasted about 45 seconds.  That was more than enough to make me never want to be in SoCal or SF during a quake!

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9. 79

   sunstreeksposted 14 years ago

   Washington seems to be a pretty safe state relative to the others for natural disasters.. Biggest worry in the Puget sound is Mount Rainier blowing up in the next 10,000 years. Earthquakes are a potential threat but rarely occur with enough severity to cause structural damage. I think flooding is probably the worst thing for some.
   
   I'll take my chances with the potential earthquake and volcano threat.. I would'nt live anywhere else.

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10. 75

    Lissieposted 14 years ago

    I'm a New Zealander and a geologist.
    Without a doubt - earthquake - but in a western country with a strong building code California and NZ have some of the best - though prieta Loma showed up some problems with the freeway system in CA. I've been thru several and they are no big deal - that said there were a few old buildings in Wellington that I would never live in...
    
    Hurricanes/tornados whatever - I saw what happened in Darwin - the museum there is amazing - warnings did not help the people of New Orleons.
    
    The scariest though are bushfires - and there are large parts of Australia I wouldn't live in because of that - nearly 200 died in Victoria - within a few hours drive of Melbourne. Bushfires are erratic, can be caused by humans and you are very dependent on authorities warning systems.
    
    Earthquakes they just have to dig you out afterwards - most countries can manage that LOL

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11. 75

    Lissieposted 14 years ago

    Volcanoes are very easy to predict they usually gives weeks of notice - the people most likely to get killed by them? Geologists - seriously LOL

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    1. 78

       JamaGeneeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       And you chose this profession why????

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12. 60

    laringoposted 14 years ago

    It's not a matter of where I live really because disasters can happen almost anywhere.  If I had to choose it makes sense to go with what gives you advance information so you can prepare somewhat. Obviously in a earthquake,they just happen. I just hope for the best and wish for none.

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