Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Hey, Preppers, Check Out Virginia!

—

by

James A. Bacon
in

I always suspected this might be the case, but now there is hard data to back it up. Non-coastal Virginia is one of the lowest-risk areas in the country for natural disasters. Sure, we get the occasional tornado or flood, but, really, how often? And when was the last time we experienced a deadly wildfire, hail storm or volcanic eruption?

Gutter Gnome, a gutter installation company, drew upon FEMA’s National Risk Index to identify the ten cities in the United States safest from natural disasters. Virginia snagged the top three. The list:

  1. Richmond
  2. Lynchburg
  3. Roanoke
  4. Midland, TX
  5. Duluth, MN
  6. Rochester, MN
  7. Pittsburgh, PA
  8. Tyler, TX
  9. Bloomington, IN
  10. Boise, ID

Oddly, Compton, Va., a community in Page County, Va., appeared on the list of riskiest “cities” for natural disasters. No explanation given. Must have had a bad flood or landslide.

Here are the categories of natural disasters, incorporating data from exposure, frequency, and historic loss ratio, that FEMA tracks: avalanche, coastal flooding, cold waves, droughts, earthquakes, hail, heat waves, hurricanes, ice storms, landslides, lightning, riverine flooding, strong wind, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, wildfire, and winter weather.

— JAB

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24 responses to “Hey, Preppers, Check Out Virginia!”

  1. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    I’m still not sharing my bunker with you…

  2. energyNOW_Fan Avatar
    energyNOW_Fan

    Makes sense as far as NoVA not being on the list. We get a lot of insurance claims for hail damage on roofs and gutters. Never works for me but for others, yes it works.

    1. how_it_works Avatar
      how_it_works

      Hurricane Agnes trashed Manassas pretty good.

      1. energyNOW_Fan Avatar
        energyNOW_Fan

        re Agnes – Pittsburgh too as far as I know the 3 rivers got really high or at least the Allegheny did

        1. how_it_works Avatar
          how_it_works

          Lots of pictures showing the area around Lomond Drive in Manassas with water several feet high.

  3. Teddy007 Avatar
    Teddy007

    Surprising that no cities in Oregon on the list. Maybe it is outside their market area.

    1. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      That, or the active volcanoes under the state…

      1. Teddy007 Avatar
        Teddy007

        When was the last volcano eruption in the State of Oregon? Yet, does the Willamette Valley get severe thunderstorms, blizzards, earthquakes, or severe fires?

      2. Teddy007 Avatar
        Teddy007

        When was the last volcano eruption in the State of Oregon? Yet, does the Willamette Valley get severe thunderstorms, blizzards, earthquakes, or severe fires?

        1. Nancy Naive Avatar
          Nancy Naive

          https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/which-us-volcanoes-pose-threat

        2. Nancy Naive Avatar
          Nancy Naive

          https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/which-us-volcanoes-pose-threat

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            The map was very helpful.

            Now I know where I’m-a gonna go
            When the volcano blows.*

            Home.

            *with apologies to Jimmy Buffett – RIP

  4. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    If you’re going to argue for a rebate from your insurance company, you’ll still lose. To paraphrase Ernestine, “We’re State Farm. We don’t have to care.”

  5. Teddy007 Avatar
    Teddy007

    I hope the video clip works. I make this joke all of the time.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JITC1fo2HA

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      You can’t go wrong with canned food and shotguns…

      1. Nancy Naive Avatar
        Nancy Naive

        Don’t forget shells and a can opener.

        1. Teddy007 Avatar
          Teddy007

          Everyone should have a can opener in their emergency kit. Guns are by preference.

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            A Leatherman or other similar multitool should also be a part of that kit.

            And yes, guns are most definitely a matter of personal preference. However, if you are really trying to make some preparations for a worst-case scenario, then whether you like guns or not I would recommend you consider including something like the .22 caliber AR-7 Survival Rifle and a box or two of ammo in your kit. At some point, you could end up hungry enough to need to shoot a rabbit or squirrel.

            https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/us-survival-rifle/

            It’s a nifty little piece of gear that can be a useful tool even if you are not a “gun person”.

  6. f/k/a_tmtfairfax Avatar
    f/k/a_tmtfairfax

    Duluth, MN? It’s largely built on hills running down to Lake Superior. Toss in the snow, and the city has different set of intersection right-of-way rules in the winter. It’s not give way to the vehicle on the right at uncontrolled intersections. Rather, it’s give way to any vehicle coming up or going down one of the hills.

    1. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      Navigation rules apply. Ship coming downstream has rights.

  7. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    Even hurricanes can’t be convinced to go to Richmond.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      ahem…… The infamous Richmond “Flood Wall”?

      1. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        We REALLY do have SHORT memories:

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f49297bacf6313dcbe32b2dbf0fe7bfa6a33878856d699a553c8a1d8d6a93181.jpg

        This section of E. Grace Street in Richmond washed out as a result of the heavy rainfall.
        As the storm (Gaston) tracked northward through Virginia as a tropical depression, it produced torrential rainfall, peaking at 12.60 in (320 mm) in Richmond.[24] The storm strengthened over Virginia, as it pivoted from a northerly track to a northeasterly track nearly over the Richmond area, which led to the afternoon of exceptional rainfall, with the epicenter over Richmond. There were also numerous reports of rainfall over 10 in (250 mm), primarily in the central portions of the state.[1] The heavy precipitation caused moderate to severe damage in Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Hanover, Henrico, and Prince George counties, where 350 homes and 230 businesses were damaged or destroyed, and many roads were closed due to high water. Hanover, Virginia reported almost a foot of rain, 11.7 inches to be exact.[1] The heaviest-hit location was downtown Richmond, where 20 blocks of the city were under water. In the historic district, a brick building collapsed[19] and dozens of other structures received flood damage as water reached 10 ft (3.0 m) in some places.[25] It is estimated that 29 homes were declared uninhabitable.[26] At the Richmond battlefield, a foot of standing water left $32,500 (2004 USD) in damage.[27] Rushing water floated automobiles and crashed them into buildings in some parts of the city.[28] Also, over 120 roads were closed within Richmond, with several more in other areas.[19] The stretch of Interstate 95 in the city was closed as flash flooding caused 20 traffic accidents.[29] An intersection was closed due to a 30 ft (9.1 m) crest as a result of flowing underground water.[30] Along the James River, swift–water rescues were required to bring people who were stranded in their cars to safety. Additionally, at least 1,000 people were forced from their homes.[29] In total, damage from flooding in the city totaled to over $20 million (2004 USD)[25] and nine people were killed, eight directly.[1]”

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gaston_(2004)

        The trend these days is localized torrential downpours and other disasters… all over , in places that has never happened before or rarely…

        This year has been of one of one localized disaster after another from Maui, to Canada, to Greece, to Spain, to Morocco to Derna, to name a few and insurance companies are pulling out from some markets like Florida and in other markets premiums are skyrocketing to pay for “other” disasters.

        1. CJBova Avatar
          CJBova

          Yes. Memories are short. Take a look at this old hurricane history in Virginia: https://www.weather.gov/media/akq/miscNEWS/hurricanehistory.pdf
          1667 Widened the lLynnhaven River–Bay rose 12 feet.
          1749 800 foot sand spit washed up and with a hurricane in 1806l, it became Willoughby Spit. Bay rose 15 ft above normal
          7 tropical storms between 1761 and 1788 caused significant damage in Va.
          1878 Cobb & Smith Islands off the Eastern Shore were completely submerged.

          Today we have global reports via satellite and internet and a density of population never seen before. We’re aware of so many events happening in so many places, but that doesn’t mean localized disasters, recorded and unrecorded, never happened in a given area before.

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