LOL, I was referring to earthquakes and hurricanes in the US.
I'd still take my chances. I'm sure it's because I'm used to earthquakes.
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Hurricanes v. Earthquakes: Which is more scary to you?
- Thread starter Californian Elitist
- Start date
LOL, I was referring to earthquakes and hurricanes in the US.
I'd still take my chances. I'm sure it's because I'm used to earthquakes.
Tsunamis are not rare at all. You get an average of 2 per year that cause damage and about 1 every 15 years that is catastrophic.
Nah, a hurricane is over in just a few hours for most people. Imagine a big rain storm (ok.. cali.. I know.. but imagine..that has a really intense portion to it and then goes back to being a rain storm. Damage of course can last for days or weeks.. but same as a major earthquake or other disaster. The storm itself is not really intimidating which is why so many people ignore evacuation orders. Most people do not think of flooding as life threatening events and trust that their structures will hold up.
I think Twister was the one who put it into perspective for me watching that opening portion when H Hunt is a child... or that sequence when the drive-in is hit.
You guys are brave. I can see myself now, being scared to death if a major hurricane ever hit California. I remember watching Hurricane Katrina and Sandy on television and feeling bad, but at the same time, I thanked God it wasn't me in that situation.
I saw Twister, too. I don't like that movie and that has definitely contributed to my fear. I don't think I want to see that movie again. The Day After Tomorrow depicted huge tornadoes ripping through Los Angeles... That also had me nervous.
Nemo14
Well-Known Member
US earthquakes stats:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/us_deaths.php
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/us_deaths.php
They're rare in Los Angeles and California. It's not like there's a tsunami watch or warning every month.
There are a few more coastal locations in the world outside of California.
Obviously, but when I originally made this post, I was referring to the natural disasters in this country.
luv
Well-Known Member
Since the ground opened up and swallowed that poor man in his bed, I am most afraid of sink holes. I'd put earthquake and hurricane in the same category.
I saw a TV show where they said some volcano was going to slide into the ocean, causing a tsunami so giant that it would wipe out New York City. I watched it when my mind was unable to retain anything new, so that's all I remember, lol.
I saw a TV show where they said some volcano was going to slide into the ocean, causing a tsunami so giant that it would wipe out New York City. I watched it when my mind was unable to retain anything new, so that's all I remember, lol.
That is kind of stacking the deck. I am fairly certain that lion attacks are much more of a concern than hurricanes in central Africa.Obviously, but when I originally made this post, I was referring to the natural disasters in this country.
bsiev1977
Well-Known Member
I was at home in PA when that earthquake hit a couple years back. I didn't even feel it, though my mother called me to say she had.
As to the original question, I think earthquakes are worse. Like many above have said, there is no warning for a quake. As destructive as hurricanes are, people at least have time to be able to get out of harm's way.
bsiev1977
Well-Known Member
If I remember right, lions aren't all that dangerous to people. Hippos are the real scourge of Africa.
acishere
Well-Known Member
The actual experience of a hurricane is just very drawn out and stressful compared to an earthquake. Earthquake prone areas you have the kit ready and the structure built to withstand it in advance. Hurricane you have to work your *** off boarding up windows, setting up sandbags, sealing doorways, moving stuff to higher places, etc. before you get out of dodge. Then you have to spend hours in the dark listening to the wind howl louder than a train whistle with the occasional bang of a falling tree or boom of a transformer hoping the trees don't hit the house you are in.
The aftermath for both can be terrible, but at least the earthquake is quick about it.
The 2 earthquakes I experienced were small so that probably diminishes my fear of them too.
The aftermath for both can be terrible, but at least the earthquake is quick about it.
The 2 earthquakes I experienced were small so that probably diminishes my fear of them too.
Darth Tater
Well-Known Member
Have only been through a Tornado. Not literally, but pretty darn close. I would go through an earthquake AND a hurricane every day of the week before wanting to have another Tornado hit within 3 miles from home.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
That's true. Lions sleep most of the day and are generally more afraid of us than we are of them. Hippos aren't nice. They're very territorial.
And don't leave booze lying around because elephants can smell it and they want it. Seriously. This happened in India a few months ago. Elephants destroyed a village looking for the alcohol.
Guess pink elephants on parade didn't happen in just Dumbo...
PUSH
Well-Known Member
I've experienced a tropical storm, but never a full blown hurricane. I've never experienced an earthquake either. Earthquake would probably be worse for me. It's not predictable, so you can't prepare in any way. It can do a lot of damage to your house, structurally it could be a nightmare if it's worse enough. Hurricanes you can bring in everything from outside, board all the windows, etc.
Tornadoes scare me a lot, too. At most there is a notice of an hour. I've seen what can happen from a tornado. It doesn't look fun. Not that any of these situations do.
We have had multiple tornado warnings while camping, and that has to be the scariest way you can face a storm. It's always in the same park, too. There's bluffs all around us, so we can't see the skies for very far. But one year we saw a funnel cloud forming above us. It was very scary. We all ran to the shower house to take cover. Lucky nothing happened.
The most damaging storm I've ever been in though was a heavy hail storm a couple years back. The hail was golf ball size and bigger. When it started it literally sounded like people were outside pelting our house with baseballs. It literally looked like there were piles of snow outside. There were huge piles of hail coming out of the downspouts. We had to get new siding, new shingles, new screens for the windows, new gutters, new porch columns, etc. For the next year or two almost every house in the town was getting new siding and roofs at some point.
Tornadoes scare me a lot, too. At most there is a notice of an hour. I've seen what can happen from a tornado. It doesn't look fun. Not that any of these situations do.
We have had multiple tornado warnings while camping, and that has to be the scariest way you can face a storm. It's always in the same park, too. There's bluffs all around us, so we can't see the skies for very far. But one year we saw a funnel cloud forming above us. It was very scary. We all ran to the shower house to take cover. Lucky nothing happened.
The most damaging storm I've ever been in though was a heavy hail storm a couple years back. The hail was golf ball size and bigger. When it started it literally sounded like people were outside pelting our house with baseballs. It literally looked like there were piles of snow outside. There were huge piles of hail coming out of the downspouts. We had to get new siding, new shingles, new screens for the windows, new gutters, new porch columns, etc. For the next year or two almost every house in the town was getting new siding and roofs at some point.
luv
Well-Known Member
Me, too. I don't wig out about them until they mention my city, but I was near one once and it scared the crap out of me for life.
If they're close enough, those things toss tree limbs around like toothpicks and birds are blown around like cigarette ashes, even when you don't see the thing itself. The wind picks up every tiny thing and wings it at you, much like helicopters do, if you've ever been near one of those while it was landing. I can't even imagine how bad it would be to be next to one. Don't want to find out, either! (Though that would classify as a cool death, if they compare such things in heaven, which I like to think they do.)
And I'm ten times as scared now, in Florida, with no basement. We were raised on, "Go to the basemen!!" and as an adult, I was like, "I have no basement!!" when they were talking "tornado" and mentioning my city on the news, lol. The only room I have without windows is my closet. So that's my new plan.
Tornados scare the day lights (and something else, as well) out of me.
PUSH
Well-Known Member
We have a basement, but there's windows all over one side of it. We have to go into the backroom of our basement. I'm always most scared for our dog. I get so sad when I see natural disasters and the owners have to leave their animals behind! It's just cruel. I would never leave them behind if evacuation was needed!
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Windows can be a blessing in a basement. Our has two small windows and I always think, "Hmm, what would I do if I needed to get out of here in a hurry?" I think I could fit through them, but I'm not 100% sure.
I agree. I'd never leave my cat behind, even though they are masters of survival.