Thoughts from people who moved from Midwest area (IL, WI, MN) (Seattle: rentals, mortgage)

[AlohaHuey]

I'm not sure it's 37%...that sounds a bit high. I'd make sure it's a USGS site that tells you that and not an alarmist. Most homes in Seattle are made of wood, which can stand earthquakes better than brick buildings. Nobody is ready to handle such a colossal quake; you do need to have emergency water, food and supplies on hand in the event of an earthquake and/or extended power outage from windstorms (much more common). There are earthquake/emergency kits available for purchase; I highly recommend getting one. It comes with the territory...we had several moderate quakes in the 90's, the large 6.8 Nisqually Quake in 2000, and nothing of any significance since. Earthquake insurance is also an option but comes with a high deductible and your house has to be totaled to collect...most people don't have it. They are scary when they happen...the 6.8 was quite a jolt.

The only 9.0-capable fault is the Cascadia Subduction fault and that is offshore of the coast of Washington. Like I mentioned, that last shifted in 1700 and has an estimated frequency of between 300-700 years between episodes. Chances are very good it won't move in your lifetime.

[Seacove]

I don't think a ton about earthquakes. In 16 years, I've seen a few small ones and one sort of larger one (some older buildings in Seattle had crumbling). I still laugh about the guy I saw running down the stairs carrying his coffee and lunch while the building was shaking (he had priorities).

I lived not far from San Francisco when the earthquake happened in the late 80s and I would still consider living in Northern California if some sort of perfect situation made it affordable. I am a coastal person and there can be earthquakes along the coast. We lived in Boston for a couple of years and it was great but too cold so back to the West we went - but still to the coast. If an earthquake happened tomorrow, we would not move inland. For a short time years ago we lived in a beautiful house in a perfect housing development in Colorado. We had snow, a hailstorm that wrecked the roof on a new house and dented up a Sequoia, massive lightening, rain and tornado warnings. I'll take the coast.

But if the worry about earthquakes, which are real, take away your happiness, you might want to put that into the equation.

[Trinitylove]

We moved here from Wisconsin last October. SOOO happy to not be experiencing that nasty frigid wicked cold and snow.
Kinda sad to not be in Wisconsin with all the other Packer fans right now though

Our motivation was also the more moderate temperatures, job opportunities, and family being here. We just could NOT take another midwestern winter.

Seattle is okay. It's very liberal. Personally I'm not a city girl at all. We're actually considering moving to a more rural town north of the city.

On the upside-very few mosquitoes. rarely temps below freezing. rarely humid in the summer.

As far as the school, there were two we could choose from based on our address. They are actually very small schools, too, which is really nice.

Our experience with the school and our daughter's teacher has been very positive so far. No issues at all.

[eskercurve]

Remember AceShopper, the Midwest is poorly equipped to handle a moderate earthquake as well. Chicago and St. Louis would be crumbling with a 6.5 or larger earthquake. The fact there's a lot of brick homes doesn't bode well for that, either.

I would consider the danger of a "big one" hitting in the PNW to be just "one of those things" ... like nuclear war, neutron star explosion, gamma ray burst, asteroid strike, etc. which CAN happen, but doesn't mean it WILL happen anytime soon. Just like how the doomsayers say we are DUE for an asteroid (in fact we're overdue), but you can't go building yourself an underground bunker with 60 years of canned food, can you?

If you're that worried about it, get insurance. Done.

[Hemlock140]

Homes built since about 1980 are up to earthquake standards, most older ones are not. There has been much more attention to that since the one that caused damage in Seattle back in the 90s. Still, it's nothing like CA. I haven't felt a quake here since that "big" one and even it seemed slight after being in CA 40 years. Worrying about a killer quake is like worrying about being hit by a bus. Yes, it may happen, but it's no reason to stop living a normal life in a place you like.

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by eskercurve

Remember AceShopper, the Midwest is poorly equipped to handle a moderate earthquake as well. Chicago and St. Louis would be crumbling with a 6.5 or larger earthquake. The fact there's a lot of brick homes doesn't bode well for that, either.

I would consider the danger of a "big one" hitting in the PNW to be just "one of those things" ... like nuclear war, neutron star explosion, gamma ray burst, asteroid strike, etc. which CAN happen, but doesn't mean it WILL happen anytime soon. Just like how the doomsayers say we are DUE for an asteroid (in fact we're overdue), but you can't go building yourself an underground bunker with 60 years of canned food, can you?

If you're that worried about it, get insurance. Done.

The New Madrid fault, should it ever awaken, will tear up Memphis and St. Louis. There is also a fault under Charleston, SC.

Gamma Ray burst? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[AceShopper]

Originally Posted by AceShopper

But the earthquakes ? There is a predicted 37% chance of a 9.0+ magnitude quake in next 50 years ??!!

That was from an alarmist website, I am sure. After reading some papers on the USGS website, it said about 10-14% chance in next 50 yrs. I guess it's like the tornadoes that hit the Midwest every year. As soon as you hear the sirens, down to the basement you go and wait. We don't think too much of it now - just hope for the best.

Here is a fact sheet from USGS:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3018/pdf/FS08-3018_508.pdf

[AceShopper]

Originally Posted by Trinitylove

We just could NOT take another midwestern winter.

On the upside-very few mosquitoes. rarely temps below freezing. rarely humid in the summer.

Our experience with the school and our daughter's teacher has been very positive so far. No issues at all.

Today's temps were in single digits here!

[AceShopper]

Turning to housing here:

In the typical Midwest suburbs, you will find single family homes with 2000+ sq. ft. and upto 0.5 acre lots. Although, most of winter that wonderful backyard is covered knee deep in snow and in summer you get exhausted from all that mowing !! :-)

As far as Seattle goes, I understand that space is at a premium here. But, in the outer suburbs where would you find homes similar to the above ? Specifically, I am looking at homes that fall in Lake Washington, Issaquah, Tahoma school districts. So far, from what I have read in C-D threads: Woodinville, Issaquah Highlands, Klahanie, Maple Valley .. Now, that is a broad range and I am hoping to kinda narrow it down.

Any thoughts/suggestions/feedback from people who live or have lived in these areas ?

[Ira500]

Issaquah Highlands, as nice as it is, doesn't have homes with large lots.
That part of Renton in the Issaquah district, and that part of Renton in the Tahoma district does have some homes on large lots. Also don't rule out Newcastle, mostly in the Issaquah district.
I know, I know. You're trying to narrow it down, and I'm making it bigger.