Anytime you see some large areas of flat land a few feet above a water level, that means that water was there at some point.....and it will be there again. It's doesn't matter that it hasn't happened in the last 100 years. 100 years on the weather schedule clock is nothing. Weather cycles are thought to last 200,000 to 400,000 years.

I just don't get it with people that want to live on the coast or around rivers where their flat land is just a few feet above the water level. It's guaranteed that it's gonna flood one day.

ty for that post!

Quoted: Anytime you see some large areas of flat land a few feet above a water level, that means that water was there at some point.....and it will be there again. It's doesn't matter that it hasn't happened in the last 100 years. 100 years on the weather schedule clock is nothing. Weather cycles are thought to last 200,000 to 400,000 years. I just don't get it with people that want to live on the coast or around rivers where their flat land is just a few feet above the water level. It's guaranteed that it's gonna flood one day.

Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts.
Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills.
Earthquakes in the West and Northeast
Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South
Droughts, thunder-lightning...................
Mudslides, forest fires.....................

Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type.

What about the ones that are below sea level?

BigDozer66

Quoted: Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts. Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills. Earthquakes in the West and Northeast Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South Droughts, thunder-lightning................... Mudslides, forest fires..................... Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type.

Solution: Move to Arizona, NM, Utah, Neveda.

Such is life on a "living" planet. There is no 100% safe place on this planet.

Quoted: Solution: Move to Arizona, NM, Utah, Neveda.

They have poisonous bugs and animals, as well as illegal aliens (aka:dangerous, violent criminals).

Quoted: Quoted: Anytime you see some large areas of flat land a few feet above a water level, that means that water was there at some point.....and it will be there again. It's doesn't matter that it hasn't happened in the last 100 years. 100 years on the weather schedule clock is nothing. Weather cycles are thought to last 200,000 to 400,000 years. I just don't get it with people that want to live on the coast or around rivers where their flat land is just a few feet above the water level. It's guaranteed that it's gonna flood one day. Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts. Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills. Earthquakes in the West and Northeast Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South Droughts, thunder-lightning................... Mudslides, forest fires..................... Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type.

The odds of dying from a natural disaster in the USA are really low, even if you are in a area prone to a particular disaster. My main concern would be loss of property, in which the odds are quite high in areas prone to flooding.

Historically speaking, the largest loss of life and property by a huge margin is in areas that are prone to flooding (coastline and around rivers). No other natural event can even come close.

The Galveston Texas hurricane induced flood of 1900 was by far the deadliest flood in the United States this century, killing about 6,000. In the 20's, the lower Mississippi flooded, inundating around 25,000 square miles and killing more than 1,000 by some estimates. The great Midwest flood of 1993 was the costliest flood in U.S. history, with estimated damages of $20 billion. The Katrina damage is estimated to far exceed that and be at $100 Billion.

If you're playing the odds, areas that are prone to flooding are not a safe bet for your property.




Here's the odds on how you'll die in the USA.

The more specific figures are based on 2001, the most recent year for which complete data are available. Other odds, indicated with an asterisk (*) are based on long-term data.



All figures below are for U.S. residents.

Cause of Death  Lifetime Odds
Heart Disease
1-in-5

Cancer
1-in-7

Stroke
1-in-23

Accidental Injury
1-in-36

Motor Vehicle Accident*
1-in-100

Intentional Self-harm (suicide)
1-in-121

Falling Down
1-in-246

Assault by Firearm
1-in-325

Fire or Smoke
1-in-1,116

Natural Forces (heat, cold, storms, quakes, etc.)
1-in-3,357

Electrocution*
1-in-5,000

Drowning
1-in-8,942

Air Travel Accident*
1-in-20,000

Flood* (included also in Natural Forces above)
1-in-30,000

Legal Execution
1-in-58,618

Tornado* (included also in Natural Forces above)
1-in-60,000

Lightning Strike (included also in Natural Forces above)
1-in-83,930

Snake, Bee or other Venomous Bite or Sting*
1-in-100,000

Earthquake (included also in Natural Forces above)
1-in-131,890

Dog Attack
1-in-147,717

Asteroid Impact*
1-in-200,000**

Tsunami* 1-in-500,000
Fireworks Discharge
1-in-615,488


** Perhaps 1-in-500,000

SOURCES: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC; American Cancer Society; National Safety Council; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; World Health Organization; USGS; Clark Chapman, SwRI; David Morrison, NASA; Michael Paine, Planetary Society Australian Volunteers

Nevermind the low lying areas because the mountains are just as easily flooded also. I live in Western North Carolina and last year hurricanes Ivan and Francis brought torrential rains to this area and flooded many parts so it doesn't really matter where you live, storms like those and Katrina can affect you thousands of miles away.

Also something to think about; Last week there was an earthquake centered about 25 miles from me that was a 3.8 on the Rictor scale.

You make an obvious point, T-S.  And for sure, in many cases, people should know better and shouldn't buy/build homes on flood plains.  But down on the gulf coast, it's not just a case of everyone there being a member of the idle rich lollygagging around in their expensive beachfront properties.  New Orleans is a major port and a major entry point for oil and gas and lots of other stuff.  There are refineries and industry and most of it is there for good reason.  And all that industrial infrastructure requires that people work there.  It would be unreasonable to expect everyone to live one hundred miles away and commute in every day by train.
Everyone in the entire Eastern half of the country benefits from having the port of New Orleans and the area's  surrounding industrial structure.  This is why we're all just going to have to pitch in and help those folks rebuild most of it.  
Now hopefully, the people who don't really need to be there will think twice about rebuilding and maybe choose somewhere less vulnerable to live, but I'm not holding my breath.

Quoted: Quoted: Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts. Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills. Earthquakes in the West and Northeast Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South Droughts, thunder-lightning................... Mudslides, forest fires..................... Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type. Solution: Move to Arizona, NM, Utah, Neveda.

Hot and no water. Not naturaly at least.

When I lived in New Jersey I was lucky enough to go through a very minor hurricane situation.  In 1999 Flyod pummeled North Carolina and then rolled up the coast.  NJ and particualrly nothern NJ got a ton of rain and considering things were in drought conditions the water just ran off the dry ground into the streams and rivers.

The Raritan River which was only about 1 mile south of me ovreflowed its banks.  The town of Bound Brook where I lived was devestated along with a lot of towns up and down the river.  The disaster specialists called it a "500 year flood."  

Sometimes you can't predict what mother nature is going to do, other times you see what can happen but take "adequate precautions."  Then there is New Orleans which should always be underwater but we have decided to challenge mother nature and build levees, put in pumps, and pray.  Mother nature won that battle.

Alaska baby.  Sure, there are pletny of earthquakes up there, but most have an epicenter in the middle of nowhere.  


How about Montana?   Maybe the big sky will come crashing down.

Quoted: Quoted: Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts. Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills. Earthquakes in the West and Northeast Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South Droughts, thunder-lightning................... Mudslides, forest fires..................... Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type. Solution: Move to Arizona, NM, Utah, Neveda.

Don't forget about Colorado!

Do NOT move to Arizona!   Thanks!

Quoted: Quoted: Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts. Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills. Earthquakes in the West and Northeast Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South Droughts, thunder-lightning................... Mudslides, forest fires..................... Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type. Solution: Move to Arizona, NM, Utah, Neveda.

Aztlan has virtually no major hurricane, tornado, flood or earthquake risk.

But it is hot.

And fast filling with illegal invaders.

Middle Nebraska is starting to look good to me-

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Hurricanes, East and Gulf Coasts. Flooding anywhere there are rivers and hills. Earthquakes in the West and Northeast Tornados in the Midwest and Mid-South Droughts, thunder-lightning................... Mudslides, forest fires..................... Tell us where would the safe place to live be? Every part of the US is subject to some type of extreme natural event of some type. Solution: Move to Arizona, NM, Utah, Neveda. Aztlan has virtually no major hurricane, tornado, flood or earthquake risk. Huh? High quake risk down here...... But it is hot. And fast filling with illegal invaders.

I live in Northern Minnesota. I'd rather shovel snow and just turn up the heat.

Quoted: Middle Nebraska is starting to look good to me-

Not if you are trying to get away from illegals, it's not.

And some people are willing to take the risks in trade for living in a pretty area, i.e. the coast.  Same reason alot of people like living in California.  They know the risks are there but are willing to chance it.


And there are also a plethora of real maroons out there as well.  

Quoted: Quoted: Such is life on a "living" planet. There is no 100% safe place on this planet. But some places are a whole lot safer than others. If you build a city BELOW SEA LEVEL, or next to the Mississippi river (which is NEVER known to flood , or on a known active earthquake fault, or on the side of an active volcano you're just asking to temp faith. On the sale of what mother nature can deliver huricanes are the grandslam.

How is that Fault, Paul?  

Quoted: Quoted: Middle Nebraska is starting to look good to me- Not if you are trying to get away from illegals, it's not.

Aw crap. North Dakota??? Really, someday I'm gonna retire and I'd like to be among my own, in a rural area. Kind of starting to plan for that now, even though its a way off. Don't like snow but considering the alternatives.......

Quoted: Huh? High quake risk down here......

Down where?

When was the last time a major earthquake hit Aztlan? Especially the Phoenix/Tucson area.