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My wife has about talked me into moving to New Mexico. I told her if we can find employment somewhere in the state and a home we can afford I would consider it.
I realize that what ever an area faces in the way of a natural diaster, a weather condition, or movement within the earth that residence of an area normally may not worry about their form of naturally occuring events, they just prepare for them. For example here in California we have earthquakes but are aware from growing up in the state, how to best be prepaired for them. I know some will say how is that possible, but with an earthquake the majority of home owners are not hurt by the quake but by all the falling household items. You get out of bed and step on a broken glass objects. Another thing is with having a 3 day supply of items ready just in case.
In other parts of the nation Tornadoes may be a problem. I hear about tornado alley from Texas on up into the middle of the nation. On the east coast Hurricanes are a big problem.
What I want to know is what would you the good people of New Mexico consider a natural event that could be life changing. leave it to my uneducated knoweldge of the state, but I seldom hear about New Mexico when a natural disaster occurs.
There has never been greater than a CAT 2 tornado in New Mexico weather history. Tornado Information Table
Some businesses reopen in Hatch, N.M., after flooding - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2006-08-16-nm-flooding_x.htm - broken link)
And then...at the government site, you can input the state, and choose whatever type storm you're interested in, the strength of a tornado, etc:
NCDC Storm Events-Select State (http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent~Storms - broken link)
If you input F3 or greater, you'll see only 4 tornadoes of that intensity that have been documented in New Mexico history. One caveat is that the Fujita scale is a damage scale. It's entirely possible that there have been more F3 (or greater) tornadoes that simply didn't hit anything. All in all though...tornadoes are not a great threat in New Mexico, but one needs to be cognizant of their existence and a bit weather conscious during tornado season...mainly over the eastern counties.
My wife has about talked me into moving to New Mexico. I told her if we can find employment somewhere in the state and a home we can afford I would consider it.
I realize that what ever an area faces in the way of a natural diaster, a weather condition, or movement within the earth that residence of an area normally may not worry about their form of naturally occuring events, they just prepare for them. For example here in California we have earthquakes but are aware from growing up in the state, how to best be prepaired for them. I know some will say how is that possible, but with an earthquake the majority of home owners are not hurt by the quake but by all the falling household items. You get out of bed and step on a broken glass objects. Another thing is with having a 3 day supply of items ready just in case.
In other parts of the nation Tornadoes may be a problem. I hear about tornado alley from Texas on up into the middle of the nation. On the east coast Hurricanes are a big problem.
What I want to know is what would you the good people of New Mexico consider a natural event that could be life changing. leave it to my uneducated knoweldge of the state, but I seldom hear about New Mexico when a natural disaster occurs.
After living in CA, VA, and Texas, then moving to NM, I feel I am a fair judge. Thee are no true natural disasters likely to cause too much concern anywhere in NM except an occassional horrible forest fire. Now, the winds in the spring are a pain in the you know what, but certainly they don't do the damage of tornados, earthquakes, flooding, etc. Anything is possible, highly unlikely would any of the above be in NM.
Fire potential should be at or near the top of anyone's concern in New Mexico, especially if they live near the interface. Towns positioned like Ruidoso are especially vulnerable.
Tornadoes occur every year, but most are in the eastern plains...and most occur during the daylight hours. Statistically, the greatest dangers are lightning (New Mexico ranks #1 or #2 in deaths per capita...depending on whose stats you use), and flash flooding (New Mexico ranks around 10th in deaths per capita). The main thing to do about those: Be aware of thunderstorm season and how quickly storms can develop...and stay away from arroyos whenever it's raining or even when it's not if it's raining upslope. And...don't drive through water of unknown depth or even fairly shallow water that is flowing.
Being nature and weather-conscious can go a long way toward keeping you and your family safe.
Thee are no true natural disasters likely to cause too much concern anywhere in NM ...
I'd worry more about a large and very destructive earthquake
in NM than I would in OH - yet with far less area, there have
been more somewhat destructive earthquakes there than here
( that we know of in recorded history ).
I'd also worry more about a large and very destructive earthquake
in Albuquerque than I would in Charleston, SC or Memphis, TN.
Well there is one earthquake showing today and it is a four pointer. Just click on it through a couple of windows and it will give all the information needed.
If you are viewing this seven days from now, the earthquake will disappear. It happened about an hour ago.
Another thing would be if the Rio Grand Rift were to suddenly get wider due to a magnitude 9.8 earthquake that ripped it 100 feet wider.
And what if the rift was not only wide, but deep?
Currently only about ½ the water taken from the middle Rio Grande valley aquifer is being replenished. If such a massive rift developed, the flow of the Rio Grande could possibly cease at this rift, and go entirely towards replenishing the aquifer [and in the process creating the Great Albuquerque Rift Nat'l Recreation Area].
And poor Texas would have to do with no river water for quite some time. Gosh, I would really feel sorry for them.
Oh worry, worry, worry,
maybe someday the volcanic dome of Elephant Butte will blow it's top, and reroute the Rio Grande into Arizona of somewhere else.
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