Vancouver & Mt. St. Helens

[scottsostuff]

We knew someone that was trying to find the safest place in the US to live, his criteria was no natural disasters.

Well the safest place to live according to his extensive research is Douglas, Wyoming. After seeing what that area offered as far as employment, education, etc. he decided that he would not move there.

He and his family still live here in Vancouver, WA. and have not for one minute regretted that decision.

The moral of this story we believe is to live you life everyday like it could be your last and to really enjoy it. We are a society that has become afraid of everything, life is short, turn off the doom & gloom nightly news and pick up a book or take a walk.

[jamesandveybe]

Yes, Vancouver is a good mix of climate and economy. Oregon is close for purchases and WA boasts a lack of sales tax (for now, but Gregoire wants to change that, hold onto your wallets). Go further West for cooler weather and you increase seismic risks. Go East over the mountains and it's just too hot in the summer.

I myself was looking West of the Olympics. I am prepped for the earthquake, and am comfortable that if my community were marooned way out there that we would be OK, because we are prepared... much better prepped and would fare much better than those in or near a city (read about Katrina, etc). Still, parts of Vancouver are attractive and I might change my mind. Time will tell.

[coltoncity]

I agree with Jamesandveybe. If you find a community out a ways and close knit you may be much more safe then in a city. We have thought about this and agreed where we are ... no one would give a crud about helping us. In a rural area you may be more isolated but if Katrina tells us anything its that big city does not mean big help. Those people died on city bridges. BTW I have not heard anything on Central Oregon. What about Mt. Bachelor?

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by silverfox

I appologize to anyone that may be offended by my statements, and maybe I have exagerated somewhat in certain areas, but with what I have found out I can only hope that people reading these statements will at least take heed of the lurking danger and get you families and businesses as well prepared as you possibly can. We live in a different world that when I grew up.... unfortunately.

I'm not offended, but you are seriously over-dramatizing things to the point of unreasonable paranoia - and I say that as someone with a graduate degree in the topic of geology and having worked for state agencies on hazard assessments. Yes, there are some areas in the PNW that I probably would not buy a house, but Vancouver is not one of them. i wouldn't build a house on top of what used to be Spirit Lake, that's for sure. I wouldn't build a house on the south or west flank of Mt. Rainier.

Earthquakes (and BIG earthquakes) are certainly a possibility, and so I have a plan and keep a stash of emergency supplies, as should anyone on the entire west coast.

[meinster]

I would not worry to much about Mt St Helens... Try Google - SuperVolcano--- and look up Yellowstone.

Nothing more destructive on earth outside of a moonsized asteriod hitting earth perhaps...