Tornadoes vs. Earthquakes -- pick your preferred natural disaster zone (prevent, cost of living)

[MerriMAC]

If you HAD to live in a place prone to tornadoes (like Tornado Alley) or earthquakes (like Southern California's anticipated "Big One"), which would you choose? Not using other factors such as the cost of living, the traffic, climate, night life, activities, etc. This thread is about which of these two natural disasters could you best prepare in advance and endure should it devastate the local area.

[harry chickpea]

Tornado, easy. Most give decent warning, affect only a very narrow strip of land and they tend to follow routes repeatedly with nearby areas being unaffected. The surrounding infrastructure after a disaster is generally intact. In an earthquake zone (and after a hurricane) a much wider area is affected and recovery takes much longer.

[Nor'Eastah]

You should've made it a 3-way poll, with "hurricanes" as the third choice. Most of the east coast (and that's a whole lot of people!) are not greatly affected by tornadoes or earthquakes (except for very minor, localized events) but are tremendously affected by hurricanes. I say this, having lived in Rhode Island for the first 66 years of my life. RI is the "hurricane capital of New England" and we had some zingers go through.

Now, I'm living in "blizzard country"! For my choice, I'd definitely go with twisters. Catch me if you can!

[leftwinghillbilly]

I've been in all three big time. As a PNW girl who grew up on the San Andreas, I prefer earthquakes. They are totally fun as long as nothing falls on you. Cascadian subduction zone- woo woo bring it on.

Tornados are so beautiful to see, twisting in the sky. I kind of feel transfixed, but no, got to run hide ina hole.

Hurricane- I went to Hurricane Ivan in 2005. The men in my life have always prevented me from going, but that time, I got away. Drove 1-10 east when it was shut down all the way to the panhandle of Florida in a sideways blowing rain. At one point I was in the eye, got out and walked around in a still, ruined forest. Then I kept going and was suddenly hit with winds blowing the other way, I was in the hellish south east side. I spent the night in my truck up under a freeway overpass. It was beautiful. It sounded like a thousand hissing snakes, and a thousand roaring lions. And way up high, a high pitched Banshee wailing. I did not go to a hurricane to party, no, I went to experience it's power. And it was like being at the feet off god.

[CCc girl]

^^^ awesome post, hbilly. I took quakes.

[Meemur]

I picked tornadoes because they come with more warning than earthquakes, plus I've lived under the threat of tornadoes all of my life, and I'm used to it.

[crazyme4878]

Tornadoes, because I've been dreaming of an earth shelter lately, which would mean almost no damage/issues. And no thank you on bringing on the Cascadian subduction zone. My boys call it "snap day," and if it did happen sooner rather than later, I don't see how we would fair well.

[leftwinghillbilly]

Well, there have been just about weekly 4.5 Richter scale quakes off the coast of Oregon lately. Small adjustments are better than a long period of inactivity.

[leftwinghillbilly]

And when the tsunami comes, surfs up!

[monkeywrenching]

I picked tornados. earth quakes can affect a large area and be just as devastating as a tornado. whereas tornados can hit or miss. your neighbors home can be destroyed by a tornado and your home not even touched.