What's with those damn geologists scaring everybody talking about "The Big One"

[hedgehog]

San Francisco hasn't been destroyed since 1906!

[shraby]

1. My guess is they do it to heighten awareness

of the damage that can occur with a large earthquake in a populated area..this causes building codes to be (hopefully) more than adequate to protect people. If they didn't make a lot of noise, the regulations get lax or ignored and bingo...a big problem with more devastation than should be because too many palms got greased.

[hedgehog]

4. You mean to say that awareness of possible disasters allows

people to plan protective steps ahead of time in an attempt to limit casualties?

Get out!

[tanyev]

2. Hey, we're all going to be dead from swine flu in a couple weeks anyway.

[havocmom]

3. Personally, l LIKE that TV show about the world after humans....

seems sorta peaceful and natural. ;)

[pnwmom]

5. don't forget global warming and the tsunamis

[hedgehog]

6. yeah, what's with all this scaring people about the Antartic ice melting?

Like I should care here in Upstate New York?

[FreakinDJ]

7. Actually it is pretty sound science

They measure the amount of "Fault Creep" just south of San Francisco and compare it to a known creep area (Pt. Rayes) just north of San Francisco along the San Andreas Fault. This represent the amount of stress along the fault line.

[hobbit709]

8. Pick a location on the West Coast

and the probability of an 8+ is pretty good. That's not even counting the volcanoes.

[HereSince1628]

9. I thought you meant THE BIG ONE!

Which could be the New Madrid Fault
or
Yellowstone Super Valcano

depending on which Discovery Channel show you watch.

[Donnachaidh]

10. If Yellowstone Caldera goes you can kiss your ass goodbye

Full eruption on that baby is an ELE (extinction Level Event).

[Thothmes]

15. or another chixilube size asteroid

slams into the planet at 25,000 mph.

[Turbineguy]

11. Jumping up on the table

doing a sexually provocative dance and ripping off all your clothes doesn't seem very scientific.

I'm developing outrage and fear fatigue.

[Donnachaidh]

12. uhh, hopefully folks will DO SOMETHING about getting emergency supplies/plans into shape

LISTEN to the geologists!

We were 2 blocks from the epicenter at Northridge, and we had our plans and supplies in place. Others in our building did not - and we wound up helping them with what we had. You don't want to be in the middle of a shitstorm like that without some sort of game plan for children, pets, etc.

Expecting FEMA to help immediately is NOT a good idea. They NEVER are there in the beginning.

We also had neighbors who had done NOTHING. Hell, they didn't even have emergency candles in their apartments! And they were in bad shape, with little kids to feed and dealing with the continual aftershocks. Luckily, enough of us in the building did have supplies, so at the minimum the kids were getting fed and cared for.

The big one may not happen in your lifetime. But have some preparation in place JUST IN CASE. We didn't think we'd need it, either. :shrug:

[stray cat]

13. Since no one has died this year from it everyone is safe and nothing should be done.

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. Although the West coast may be more likely to be hit,

no place is really safe. there was movement near the New Madrid fault in the middle of the country. Charleston, SC had a huge one years ago, and the fault could slip at any time. I don't worry about it. I have a survival kit for whatever.

[hedgehog]

16. My OP was aimed at those mocking the concern over the new flu outbreak.

The fact is, everything we known from history, microbiology and evolution tells us that sooner or later there will be a pandemic. While panic is not a good response, sticking your fingers in your ears and going "La la la I can't hear you" is not a good response either. Educate yourself and do what you can to protect yourself.

[Donnachaidh]

17. while I'm not going to rush out and buy tamiflu to stick in my family's ass

I think that people need to stop going into auto-panic over this. Yeah, it's a concern, but the MSM is going to ratchet this up to levels that will make dog's ears bleed-- and I seriously doubt it will be done for *concern* over their viewers. It will be done to scare people into watching.

Personally, I'm sick of *chicken little* news stories and posts. I'm worn out after eight years of fascists on the hoof in Washington. I'm sick of watching media that slobbers with glee over each and every story they can boost to apocalyptic levels.

If that makes me a mocker -- oh well. Doesn't mean I'm not going to be looking out for my family and friends. There's a big difference between paying attention and obsessing. Some people live to be scared shitless. I'm not one of them. Guess it sucks to be me - by their standards. :shrug: