Tornados in SA? (San Antonio, Hondo, San Diego: insurance, homes, neighborhood) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

leavingcali · 08-26-2006, 10:44 AM

How big of a concern are these? Also, any flooding or other types of weather cocnerns? We're transplanting from Sacramento, CA so flooding and the occassional earthquake are our only concerns.

Steel Man · 08-26-2006, 01:35 PM

Hmmmm....this subject sounds very familiar. Check the thread of same name posted on 8/8/06.

But, to start you out...

Tornadoes: No. There has been some strong wind bursts that have torn off hanger roofs on the old Kelly AFB....same thing to the West in Hondo).

Flooding: Yes, but not real big floods where thousands of homes are lost. Generally, flooding occurs along rivers and dry creek beds during very heavy flooding. SA lost about 20 homes a few years back that were in low areas. Some of those flood areas (Olmos Dam for one) were fixed up. When driving around SA, if you see what looks like a 5-foot measuring stick on the side of the road, then that area is subject to flooding during heavy rain.

Earthquakes: I have been through several in California, Okinawa, and Japan but none here in San Antonio. There was one very minor earthquake about 50 miles south of SA (no damage). That is not to say one could not happen here but odds are VERY low that it would (no major faults that I know of around here).

leavingcali · 08-26-2006, 03:24 PM

Thanks, Steelman. You are always so helpful. Once we move there, we'll have to take you out for dinner.

LdyApxr · 08-26-2006, 06:29 PM

Having lived in No. CA all my life, I can honestly say that I have never even felt an earthquake. Not even the Loma Prieto one in 87. Knock on wood!

Steel Man · 08-26-2006, 10:51 PM

I lived the first 19 years of my life in Southern California and felt many earthquakes. I guess it is not your FAULT that you haven't felt any earthquakes.

Some interesting web sites on California earthquakes.

Sampaguita · 08-26-2006, 11:28 PM

The only earthquakes I've ever felt were in Staten Island, NY & one in SB in the middle of the night.

No one believed me on the SI one but I know I felt something. Much later, when I was an adult, I did some research & found out that a major fault line runs th/NY State & tremors have been felt.

I may be goofy, but I'd rather live in CA & its earthquakes than anywhere where tornadoes or hurricanes are part of the seasons.

Steel Man · 08-26-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sampaguita

...I'd rather live in CA & its earthquakes than anywhere where tornadoes or hurricanes are part of the seasons.

Food for thought....you can run/seek shelter from a tornado or evacuate before a hurricane hits...but you can't run from a major earthquake (Pakistan for example).

Sampaguita · 08-26-2006, 11:47 PM

Well...that's true. I guess living in San Diego where there hasn't been a major earthquake since ??? lulls us into a false sense of security. No one that I know of in our neighborhood or any of our friends even has EQ insurance.

It does make SA look good though - no fault lines, no immediate danger of tornadoes or hurricanes.

LdyApxr · 08-27-2006, 07:13 AM

I remember 4 years ago when we went to MI for my FIL memorial and having never been there, I was not quite prepared for all the greenery in August. We don't have green in August in Cali! LMAO! Well about an hour after we got to Alpena, there was this outrageous thunderstorm and then they started sending out Tornado Warnings and I told my hubby that I prefer CA because Earthquales have no warning and I would prefer not to know that it "might or might not" be happening. LOL Of course, I love a good thunderstorm!! Must be all the summers I spent in AZ as a kid.

RedOregon · 11-08-2006, 11:39 AM

Most of the tornadoes (yes, there are some) seem to skirt the south/east sides of San Antonio. There was one a couple of years ago that picked up a semi truck on the southbound lanes of I-35 south of town, turned him around, and dropped him on the northbound lanes! Bet that was one tough cleaning job on that poor trucker's seat cushion!

As far as earthquakes... it's not there anymore, but a web hosting company called Rackspace used to have a blurb on their website explaining that they located in San Antonio because it's one of the most seismically stable sites in the US. I want to say that it said something about how it's one of only three places Lloyds of London would insure against earthquake damage but I forget exactly how it was worded.