Forbes names Minneapolis safest city in America

[Globe199]

Very interesting list. It's weird how Detroit is ranked 12/40 overall, yet has the highest violent crime number (40). But it has an extremely low "workplace fatality rate" -- presumably because there are no jobs in Detroit!

[uptown_urbanist]

I'm assuming Detroit also has little to worry about on the natural disaster list. That certainly must have boosted the TC score, too. It's nice not having to worry about hurricanes or earthquakes.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

I'm assuming Detroit also has little to worry about on the natural disaster list. That certainly must have boosted the TC score, too. It's nice not having to worry about hurricanes or earthquakes.

Minnesota gets tornadoes. That is something to think about.

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Minnesota gets tornadoes. That is something to think about.

Minnesota gets Tornadoes, Floods, Droughts, Winter Storm Warnings, wind chills, etc.

[uptown_urbanist]

Yes, but it's still one of the safest places around from a natural disasters point, unless you live in a floodplain. I know tornadoes happen, but this isn't the worst place in the country and damage is usually pretty localized. Winter dangers are generally preventable, and droughts haven't been deadly. Contrast that to earthquakes and hurricanes and their widespread potential for damage, and to a lesser extent wildfires, and MN's starting to look pretty good.

Not to say MN is perfect in the natural disasters standpoint, but compared to many places in the United States it's extremely safe. (and the report was on Minneapolis itself, so even the flood issue is rather a moot point.)

[Thegonagle]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Minnesota gets tornadoes. That is something to think about.

Tornados are nothing, relatively speaking. Last summer's tornado in Minneapolis made a direct hit in three small specific areas, and then bounced back up into the sky without another peep. (And then the sirens were sounded, LOL.)

The first warning of a tornado one man near 45th and Portland got was when he opened the back door of his house intending to do some yard work, and saw a tree flying through the air. "And so I closed that door," he said.

The scary thing about tornadoes is not massive carnage that affects dozens of square miles. It's the unpredictably sudden brutal onslaught in small areas that's nearly over by the time you (or the national weather service) even realize what's happening.

If they're going by insurance actuarial tables, a tornado is a mere drop in a bucket compared to the deluge that is a hurricane or earthquake.

That doesn't make a tornado any less scary if you're the one who's had a close encounter, but let's just say that single tornado, even a large one, affects fewer people than any damaging hurricane or earthquake. And it affects the gambl--I mean insurance--companies much, much less. (Don't forget, this is Forbes magazine we're talking about.)

[golfgal]

I agree-while we get tornadoes they are few and far between when they actually cause any damage to property. I have lived in the Twin Cities the majority of my life and have never experienced any damage from a tornado--heck, we haven't even had to go to the basement for a bad storm ever.

The worst we have ever had for a 'natural disaster' was in the spring/summer of '93 when we had the torrential rain. Our sump-pump quit working when we were out of town. We had some friends check our basement and we had about 2" of water down there. They pumped it all out for us when we were out of town-they worked for DH so he gave them some extra vacation time for doing that-everyone was happy.

[pirate_lafitte]

Compared to most major cities, Mpls doesn't get as many natural disasters.