Between hurricanes, floods and fires, it almost seems as if Mother Nature is on the warpath. Perhaps she is, or perhaps all of recent natural disasters are just a horrible coincidence. That’s not an argument for this blog to take up, but it is true that a lot of people have been asking themselves how to protect themselves and where they might move that is safe.
First, let’s talk about the least safe states, and as you might imagine, California doesn’t fare well. It’s the second worst state for national disasters. Only Texas has more. We get floods, fires, land and mudslides, tsunamis and of course, earthquakes. Now, before reading too much into this, remember that they are counting number of events and we are the third largest state in land mass. Texas is second. In reverse order, the states with the most natural disasters are:
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- Florida
- New York
- Oklahoma
- California
- Texas
If we break it down even further, California, at least Southern California, doesn’t get any better. Southern California counties represent five of the top 15 most dangerous counties and there isn’t a single California county in the 15 safest.
- Ocean County, New Jersey
- Orange County, California
- Cape May County, New Jersey
- Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Los Angeles County, California
- Clinton County, New York
- Burlington County, New Jersey
- San Diego County, California
- Franklin County, New York
- Riverside County, California
- San Bernardino County, California
- Atlantic County, New Jersey
- Chittenden County, Vermont
- Grand Isle County, Vermont
- Camden County, New Jersey
For many of us in California, low risk means boring, and we know the risks. We live in California for its beauty, for its culture, for its never-ending activities, for the bustling business climate and for the people. If you’re tired of feeling on-edge, though, who can blame you? The good news is that you don’t have to travel far outside of California to escape most of the wrath of Mom Nature. All but one county is at least in the western half of the United States. Two are in our neighboring state of Oregon.
Time Magazine lists the safest counties as:
- Sweet Grass, Montana
- Washington County, Idaho
- Wheatland County, Montana
- Sherman County, Oregon
- Emporia City, Virginia
- Fergus County, Montana
- Luna County, New Mexico
- Liberty County, Montana
- Grant County, New Mexico
- Malheur County, Oregon
- Potter County, South Dakota
- Hill County, Montana
- Silver Bow County, Montana
- Canyon County, Idaho
- Golden Valley County, Montana
The other piece of good news is that even if you stay in California, the odds of dying, even in an earthquake, are very small. Your odds of being killed by lightening is actually higher.
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons.
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