Have you ever been in a natural disaster?

StevenK

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Just thinking about the Florida hurricanes.

We don't really have natural disasters here so I'm just wondering what it's like. Hurricane, earthquake, tidal wave, anyone found themselves stuck in the middle? Did you emerge unscathed?

Stories please.
 

@M

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I was in a mild flood several years ago, and only "natural" in the sense that a beaver dam caused it (lots of ponds and streams near my house). Had about 3-4 feet of water in my basement and a soggy yard, but, no serious loss or damage. Fookin' beavers! 🦫🦫🦫🦫🦫
 

racecar

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Does global warming count ? Might be a Indian summer up here we still get 27 c degree weather in October
 

Heinz

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Thankfully no but we did have a 5.8 quake late last year.
 

skate323k137

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Just lots of close calls with Tornadoes.

I went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina had happened to work down there. I could certainly share some stories.
 

wyo

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Tampa hasn't had a direct hit from a hurricane in 100 years and I'm far enough inland to avoid storm surges and major wind damage. We did have some tornadoes close to us maybe 10 years ago. The sky turned green and local schools were locked down. We've had storms far worse than the outer edge of Ian or Irma in 2017 with lightning strikes every few seconds. Just stay inside and wait it out.
 

LoneSage

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I was in the Philippines during a minor flood while riding a motorcycle I rented. I had to cross a land bridge that had running water on it at the time while on the bike. Video of me doing it exists.
 

tomwaits

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We had a massive ice storm in 2008. Trees and power poles down everywhere from the weight of the ice coatings. 12 days without power in mid/late December. I was burning fallen trees & branches in the fireplace to stay warm. Heating canned food along the edge of the fire.

Most roads were blocked for the first few days then the National Guard came through to clear the streets. Strange to have dozens of uniformed 'soldiers', jeeps, and personnel carriers on my rural street. Chatted with them and they were complaining that they had thousands of men and four chainsaws. They were just pushing trees to the sides of the street by hand or jeep. Every street, every town in the area.

I bought a generator in case it ever happens again...
 
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HornheaDD

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When I was a kid my family and I had to live through Hurricane Gilbert. My dad worked at a bank in town at the time, and got permission from the president to bring us in to sleep there a couple of nights. I remember my dad being pretty scared. We were told we could only stay in the break room, but it was huge, probably the size of a small restaurant, so it wasn't like we were in a tiny room lol.

I also went through that 2020 Winterpocalypse in Texas. That was pretty fucked up.
 

@M

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I wonder how the world will handle the increased frequency/severity of storm-related natural disasters some scientists are predicting as a result of climate change, if that comes to pass and gets really bad? Too many in a short period of time would sorely stretch government and municipal resources.
 

NexusX

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When you live in the Southern United States floods, hurricanes, tornados, heat waves with accompanying wildfires, and the occasional Mormans knocking at your door are the facts of life.
 

Syn

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No stories here. I've lived in Michigan and Kansas, both have tornadoes multiple times a year.
 

StevenK

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No stories here. I've lived in Michigan and Kansas, both have tornadoes multiple times a year.
I've got a feeling you're not in Kansas anymore?
 
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@M

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No stories here. I've lived in Michigan and Kansas, both have tornadoes multiple times a year.
Upper Michigan very seldom gets tornadoes, just terrible blizzards.
 

Late

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No I haven't. A friend of mine was in Thailand in 2004 when the Tsunami struck. luckily they were way out to sea so they only felt a long continuous wave as it passed under them, when they came back to port everything was in pieces.
 

SignOfGoob

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I’ve lived in Michigan for all my life. Midland for the first half, Ann Arbor for the second half. No disasters ever. The worst thing I’ve ever experienced is a week without power in the winter. I’ve absolutely never had to call the insurance company to build me a new house right on top of the same doomed location as the previous house. That costal vacation house shit is nonsense.

A couple of years ago a flood wiped out the town of Sanford where I once worked. My old work location is still there but the town it serviced is pretty pointless now that the dam is gone. This was absolutely an unnatural disaster though, a neglected dam that was a ticking time bomb, honestly.

Verdict: Michigan is a good place to live.
 

GutsDozer

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Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida. I feel so bad for the people in FL. I know what it's like to lose everything you own and your home. Not knowing where friends and family are after the event is just as horrible. My soul hurts for these folks.
 

Hippo

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Hurricane season down here is from June - November. You start to become used people panicking and buying all the water and batteries etc. It’s one of the things that’s soured me one buying a house down here. It’s just one of those things that come along with living in a tropical climate. The endless amount of Hurricanes and hysteria it brings. 2 more months to go !!!
 
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