Pittsburgh and Natural Disasters? (Carnegie, Millvale: house, buying, earthquake)

[gottaq]

Is Pittsburgh a safe haven from natural disasters, or are there risks? How likely are earthquakes and tornados? And will the 3 rivers flood downtown if a big storm hits in the future? I'm looking for a U.S. city that is pretty safe from weather disasters. My list includes Pittsburgh, Rochester, Buffalo so far. Any suggestions?

[Moby Hick]

We had an earthquake in 2011. I barely noticed. Tornados happen, but not at all often like in the midewest. The three rivers flood downtown parking lots and roads fairly often, but I don't think it's gotten to the buildings since 1936. For flooding, you want to worry about smaller rivers and creeks.

[PghYinzer]

It’s actually quite boring weather and natural disaster wise, and that is a good thing. Some say the weather sucks, but at least it won’t kill you. A stray blizzard, some flooding due to topography (but very localized) and sometimes a tropical system will park itself over the area and rise the rivers. When that happens it usually only closes the 10th Street bypass and very rarely the “bathtub” on the Parkway. Nothing horrible for Downtown (due to flood control dams built upriver after the 1936 flood), but sometimes Carnegie, and Millvale get flooding.

[North Beach Person]

Don't forget the cloudy days.

[I_Like_Spam]

Floods are the major threat as far as weather disasters here in Pittsburgh.

We have had tornados and microbursts on occasion, but not too frequently and even when they do hit, its only a very small number of Pittsburghers who are affected.


River flooding isn't the biggest problem, that has been largely alleviated by the canalization of the major rivers and the ability to hold back the water. Creek flooding on the other hand can be devastating. Flooding of waterways like Girty's Run in Millvale or Negley Run, or the confluence of several major creeks in Carnegie can be serious.

[RyanR]

Originally Posted by gottaq

I'm looking for a U.S. city that is pretty safe from weather disasters. My list includes Pittsburgh, Rochester, Buffalo so far. Any suggestions?

Unless you like snow, and a lot of it, I'd avoid Rochester and Buffalo. They're regularly in the top-10 cities for annual snowfall.

Pittsburgh doesn't get the snow like the other 2 cities but does get a lot more ice in the winter.

As already noted, not a lot going on in this area for natural disasters.

[theta_sigma]

Our weather is super duper boring. Just don't buy a house right next to one of the creeks and you're good to go as far as natural disasters.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by theta_sigma

Our weather is super duper boring. Just don't buy a house right next to one of the creeks and you're good to go as far as natural disasters.

That's good advice, but it's good to remember you can still get a flooded basement away from any creek if it rains hard enough.

[stburr91]

I believe that I read that of all the major cities, Pittsburgh was ranked the least likely to be struck by a natural disaster.

[sskink]

This may not qualify as a "natural" disaster, but if you're buying in Pittsburgh, be sure to study the mine maps. While it's still a rare occurrence, an abandoned mine under your home could lead to some unexpected settling and foundation damage down the road, if not an outright sinkhole.