What Natural Disaster Is the Biggest Threat in Your Area?

[Redlo Nosrep]

All this uncertainty about the Oroville Dam and its spillways performing as expected with the torrents of rain received in the area reminded me of what I would do in the event of a similar situation here: a natural disaster occurs and am I ready for it, as best I can be?

The Number One threat to those of us west of the Cascades is the overdue full rip of the Cascadian Subduction Zone fault, which could produce a staggering 9.0 earthquake and accompanying tsunami that could surge at least ten miles inland -- there's even a school of thought that such a massive earthquake could trigger a volcanic eruption on Mt. Rainier. (Talk about a trifecta!)

The house has been bolted to the foundation, all suggested retrofits have been done, furniture and water tanks have been secured to the walls, food and water storage is ongoing, and I subscribe to a feed that keeps us residents updated on earthquake activity. Otherwise, I keep my fingers crossed and remember that it still might not happen in my lifetime.

What's your biggest concern where you are? How are you meeting the challenge of being prepared for it?

 

[Kitties]

I'm in California, so earthquakes. I'm not all that far from Oroville.

Believe it or not, I'm still traumatized by the drought (as I have mentioned here before) I still want more rain and actually didn't like the sun today. I'm not saying it's rational. I keep thinking we have rain and snow now but what about next year and the year after that?

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

We have been pretty lucky in Northern New Jersey. Maybe a small tornado touching down or hurricane, but never the devastation as in other states. The coast got hit with a huge hurricane called Sandy but we are far from that area.

 

[NancyNGA]

Probably tornadoes. Not too concerned though, because they cover such a small area. Hurricanes usually downgrade by the time they get this far north, but one did pass over in 2008 I believe. Not fun, but no major damage. Never thought of drought, but that is actually a bigger concern to me, personally.

 

[Warrigal]

It's bushfire season in Australia and a very bad one at that.

 

[Buckeye]

Volcano. Or Earthquake. Or Hurricane. Or Tsunami. In that order.

You pick 'em.

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

Right now it`s flood where I am-at least my town is flooded. We are on a hill so are OK but those that live down near our lake are in trouble. Lots of flooded homes and evacuations. But normally? Wildfire. Our county has had two devastating wildfires in the past year and a half and three over the past three years. Here is my town right now.....

https://www.google.com/search?q=Lak...i=f8-vWL6WOIvLjwSFxozwBQ#imgrc=GfkCSniT5B6GPM:

 

[Aunt Bea]

Snow.

 

[Butterfly]

Wildfires

 

[Shalimar]

Earthquake, although our First Nation's Shamans predict Vancouver Island will suffer minimal damage in the next big quake. they were right about the last problem we had....

 

[chic]

Just hurricanes and major snow storms. There's really nothing much to do except to plan for these events. Stock up on food, supplies and fuel or have an escape rout planned for a storm requiring evacuation, which hasn't happened here yet.

 

[Laurie]

England!

 

[Silver]

I live on a volcanic island. Although most of the volcanos are dormant. You never know

 

[pnwgranny]

Being 20 minutes from the Pacific Ocean our biggest threat is tsunami.

 

[Pappy]

Hurricanes and tornados. Florida is well known for both. Been here since 99 and have had some damage from hurricane, but all in all, so far...so good.

 

[Bee]

England!

:lol:

 

[Falcon]

Just hurricanes and major snow storms. There's really nothing much to do except to plan for these events. Stock up on food, supplies and fuel or have an escape rout planned for a storm requiring evacuation, which hasn't happened here yet.

Just WHERE in U.S. is all this taking place? You never said.

 

[nvtribefan]

Earthquakes

 

[tnthomas]

San Andreas fault, here is a tour of the fault section that runs through our area: http://www.backroadswest.com/blog/san-andreas-fault-wrightwood/ .

Brush fires are really more of an immediate problem, such as the recent devastating Blue Cut fire.

 

[Deucemoi]

Here in montana this valley is the largest west of the mississippi and has very little trees, maybe grass fire. We have had forest fires in the area that produced so much smoke you could not see the entire valley. We have had earthquakes in the past, hebgon dam in yellowstone. We had a tornado back in the late 80's. Also there is the super volcano yellowstone. There has also been flooding. Guess we get the lot...

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

I forgot about volcano. We live at the base of one. I have been told since I was a very little girl that it is extinct but that is not the case-it is only dormant. So who knows?

 

[Buckeye]

England!

That's funny!!!

 

[Redlo Nosrep]

Thanks for the responses...

I found a great article with tips for disaster preparation geared to seniors: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/...ing-prepared-for-a-natural-disaster.html?_r=0 For those of you in areas of the U.S., Spain, and Australia facing wildfire threats every year, does the burned smell of the soil and landscaping ever go away? I was amazed on a hike through a burned-out forest many years ago how strong the reek of smoke was so long after the event.

 

[hauntedtexan]

Monster Storms and Hail in Texas

Here in the heart of Texas, we have a high threat of Tornados. Just as dangerous in Texas is the huge hail that accompanies our storms. While living near Pecos, a storm produced grapefruit sized hail and in the Austin area, I've seen baseball sized hail and ended up with a car that closely resembled my golf ball. We can get the remains of Gulf Hurricanes also. Ahhh, springtime in Texas...

 

[nvtribefan]

For those of you in areas of the U.S., Spain, and Australia facing wildfire threats every year, does the burned smell of the soil and landscaping ever go away?

Oh yes. And regrowth is rapid.