Would like to move to CA but worried about earthquakes... (San Jose: neighborhoods, buy)

[Jen78fl]

Hi all. Well my husband is in the Coast Guard and we might possibly try for CA when we are due to leave here next summer.. We are in FL right now. Anyway we have lived in quite a few places along the east coast and now we are thinking it might be a nice change to go to the west coast. My husband has been to CA and says its really beautiful. I think it looks nice just from looking at pictures and seeing it on TV. I love all the hills/mountains and of course the beaches! Also, I have a son with autism and from what I have heard , autism services are very good in CA..

But, I guess I am a little worried about earthquakes. CA has alot of small earthquakes right? Are they not very noticeable? I think what I am more concerned with is a bigger earthquake. I know they are always predicting that there could be a big earthquake in the near future..

Anyway, I am probably just worrying too much, but could use any more info about CA. Thanks everyone!!

Jen

[EscapeCalifornia]

There's so many other day to day problems with California that earthquakes are pretty far down the list of reasons not to live here. Hurricanes are a much bigger problem in Florida than earthquakes in California.

[ferretkona]

We have many earthquakes everyday, most are never felt. Building standards have had earthquakes in mind for many decades.

[vdy1985]

Having lived in CA from birth until 23 years of age, I could count on 1 hand the number of earthquakes that I actually felt. The 89 earthquake was the one big one. I felt 1 small one when I was in high school. Felt 2 small ones in college at Berkeley. And that is it. Some people didn't even notice the 4.3 earthquake around San Jose last week.

[JetJockey]

Earthquakes. I guess living in CA most of my life makes me nearly immune to 'feeling' earthquakes. I had a roommate who was a Colorado transplant and we were sitting on the porch one day chatting with some friends. He got really white and quiet for a minute and then asked it we 'felt that'... we were kind of confused but later heard on the news that there was a smalll 4.something earthquake and we didn't even notice

[bluebeard]

Anybody who grew up in the area is not afraid if them. Most earthquakes are like a big truck driving by. I sleep right through them.
However, after living in the South during Katrina I realized all that it takes is one unexpected big one. Hurricanes may have caused more damage in Florida in the past, but you know when they're coming, and can high-tail it outta there if needed.
The likelihood of ever being harmed in a earthquake is low. But I probably wouldn't purchase any property in a risky zone.
Liquefaction Hazard Maps

[misplaced1]

Please don't judge California by TV or photo's. There is a whole lot you don't see. Come first and see what it is really like. Check out the schools, the neighborhoods, the utility and gas bills, the laws, the people, the traffic, the drought, the fires, the mudslides. Maybe you will love it and maybe you won't but it's a really good idea to come here first because there are so many issues to consider.

I'm in N.Ca. and we get a few light earthquakes here and they are scary for a second but personally I don't give them much though. We've never had any damage.

[bluebeard]

I think the fear about earthquakes should be about nothing but the potential for "the big one". This is a real potential, which is like I said, check the maps before you buy any place.

[Twinkle Toes]

If we all worried about earthquakes, nobody would live here.

[Inthesierras]

Have you thought about Southern Oregon? In some areas like Ashland and Eugene, you have better weather and access to great autism services.