Post by Wines Not Whines on Aug 29, 2012 18:39:57 GMT -5
I grew up in FL and experienced a few hurricanes, but my town didn't have a direct hit from a major hurricane while I was there. I've only experienced a baby earthquake (~5.0). The earthquake was scary because I had no clue WTF was happening. But if I was used to earthquakes, I can see how it would be no biggie. Even a minor hurricane will cause some damage, flooding, and power outages.
Post by GailGoldie on Aug 29, 2012 18:46:56 GMT -5
I'm guessing none of you were in San Fran during the big one... what was it, 89? My brother was there- and has horrible PTSD b/c of it. I highly doubt anyone that went though it, and lost their best friend (his friend was killed when a building fell on his car) woul pick an Earthquake- that you can't plan for, can't evacuate from, etc.
I have been through a few hurricanes- living in FL and NOLA, and even here in NJ... I evacuated for some, stayed through others with safety (slept downstairs in case of falling trees, away from windows, etc).... I would take a hurricane ANY day vs. an earthquake.
I was born and raised on the east coast of Florida, and i voted hurricane I'd rather have a week's worth of notice to prepare and/or gtfo!
This is what I voted for. I am on the West Coast. I would rather know the weather is coming so I could prepare or relocate.
Exactly! You'll have a general idea of how bad it might get, so just grab what you'd never be able to live without and head out. I've never been in an earthquake, so I suppose I'm biased, but I'm a planner by nature, so I much prefer having my ducks in a row!
I'm guessing none of you were in San Fran during the big one... what was it, 89? My brother was there- and has horrible PTSD b/c of it. I highly doubt anyone that went though it, and lost their best friend (his friend was killed when a building fell on his car) woul pick an Earthquake- that you can't plan for, can't evacuate from, etc.
I have been through a few hurricanes- living in FL and NOLA, and even here in NJ... I evacuated for some, stayed through others with safety (slept downstairs in case of falling trees, away from windows, etc).... I would take a hurricane ANY day vs. an earthquake.
I was in SF during the '89 quake, on the top floor of a 3 story house. The house had been built just a few years earlier & so it was built to recent code. It swayed like hell, exactly as it was designed to do. Scary as it happened, but it didn't have a lasting effect on me.
I've lived in Cali my entire life. I'd still choose an earthquake over a hurricane.
I was always told growing up (grew up in LA) that the more smaller ones we have the less bad "the big one" will be because it relieves pressure on the faults. Of course this all depends on which fault the smaller ones occur on and which fault "the big one" decides to happen on.
To answer the question, I'd pick earthquake any day. I was here for the Northridge quake in 1994 and it was scary, but it only lasts a very short amount of time and then you figure it out. I think the anticipation of a hurricane would freak me out.
Another native Californian voting for an earthquake over a hurricane.
Post by alleinesein on Aug 30, 2012 9:32:25 GMT -5
I'll stick to my earthquakes!! Hurricanes INVOLVE WATER....a shitton of water!!! Unless the earthquake busts up all the water pipes there is no water/flood issues to deal with.
Post by mrsjuleshs on Aug 30, 2012 11:34:11 GMT -5
I am from So Cal and now live in Houston so I have experienced both. I would much rather go through an earthquake. Your stuff at least pretty much stays in the same place and chances are you won't be without power for up to a few weeks during the blazing hot summer.
Hurricane. I grew up in a low laying southern, coastal town. We got hit a couple times pretty hard. But, you prepare and you deal. And when its a small one everything gets cancelled and you drink yourself silly during the storm.
Earthquakes. There is no preparing for that nonsense.
I'm guessing none of you were in San Fran during the big one... what was it, 89? My brother was there- and has horrible PTSD b/c of it. I highly doubt anyone that went though it, and lost their best friend (his friend was killed when a building fell on his car) woul pick an Earthquake- that you can't plan for, can't evacuate from, etc.
I was there. That is not the biggest earthquake I've been in. I pick earthquake.
Losing your best friend is very sad but not at all common among people who've been through major earthquakes. I don't think your brother's experience can be extrapolated to people who just dealt with shaking and minor property loss.
Depends on magnitude. I would prefer a minor earthquake to a minor hurricane because it's over faster. But I would prefer a severe hurricane to a severe earthquake, because it seems like being trapped under a collapsed building would be worse than trying to flee a hurricane.
I grew in tornado country and would prefer a tornado to either.
I'm guessing none of you were in San Fran during the big one... what was it, 89? My brother was there- and has horrible PTSD b/c of it. I highly doubt anyone that went though it, and lost their best friend (his friend was killed when a building fell on his car) woul pick an Earthquake- that you can't plan for, can't evacuate from, etc.
I was there. That is not the biggest earthquake I've been in. I pick earthquake.
Losing your best friend is very sad but not at all common among people who've been through major earthquakes. I don't think your brother's experience can be extrapolated to people who just dealt with shaking and minor property loss.
Losing a friend can happen in any natural disaster and is tragic. As a native Californian who has been through Whittier, Northridge and Landers, I would still choose to experience a big quake than a hurricane. My H, who was in the Bay Area during the Loma Prieta earthquake, would prefer earthquakes to hurricanes.
I think media coverage has a lot to do with people's perceptions of natural disasters. We only really hear about all the bad things that have happened and none of the people/buildings/places that were spared. I'm sure the Northridge coverage made it seem like all of Southern California was flattened after the quake, but that was far from the reality. I know that, because I lived in So Cal.
Based on hurricane coverage, I am to believe that the entire state of LA is under siege. I don't have any real idea of who is safe and who is not. In my mind, hurricane equals automatic panic and guaranteed damages which is not something I associate with earthquakes. So for me, earthquakes are better.