fci wrote:So, if I understand you; people who:
Live in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinios and Texas think they are immune to tornadoes
Live anywhere on the Atlantic or Gulf Coast (or China coast or Mexican Riveriera) think they are immune to Hurricanes
Live along the Mississippi River think they are immune to Floods (oh, Johnstown too)
Live near the San Andreas fault think they are immune to Earthquakes
Live near Mt St Helens think they are immune to Volcanos
Live near Indonesia think they are immune to tsunamis
What Matt said was very insensitive and came out wrong.
He apologized for how it came out whatever he was trying to say.
No one should judge others for where they choose to live based on the fact that the area they choose could fall victim to a natural disaster.
People do not think they are necessarily "immune" to them and are not "stupid" for living there.
They deserve compassion if they are unfortunate enough to fall victim.
They do not deserve a "that's what you get for being there"!
fci
(back down from soapbox.....)
noooo, you are misreading me. In a nutshell, what I'm saying that if you build your house ON THE COASTLINE , what else do you expect? It's just that with someplaces the risk is much much higher and it's obvious. Do I laugh at someone who's home gets destroyed on the coast? Of course not! I'm just saying that they know the risks, and it just comes with it....
Tornados can hit ALMOST ANYWHERE, but the risk is extremely small in one area due to the size of the storm, unless you live in tornado alley...
Here's a good example, I wanted to move into the sierra mountains recently, but I realize that if I did, that there's a decent chance of a forest fire. I did a bit of research that there have been several fires over the last 10 to 20 years coming pretty close to where I wanted to live, so I elected not to because the risk to me just wasn't worth losing everyhing. If the risk was worth losing everything, hell, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat!
Now there are people I'm not quite as sensitive towards and that's the folks who home get destroyed on the coastline by a hurricane, yet they build in the same exact spot. Obviously I feel bad for them the first time. But if it happens a 2nd time, i it obviously didn't traumatize them enough the first time to change the location where they wanted to build another home at...