Natural disasters in West Texas? (Lubbock, San Angelo: crime, homes, purchase)

[jtaustin]

I'm very ill and looking for a place to retire. Don't mean to be morbid, but essentially, at my age, it would be my last move, if I'm even able to make it. Right now I'm in Lubbock, but the tornadoes scare me. There were 80 tornado warnings one afternoon a year ago last May. Aside from the tornadoes I'm really happy here, and have good healthcare here, also.

I've thought that San Angelo would be a possibility, but now I read that that area is going to have a lot of fracking, and that may cause floods in an already flood prone area. Lubbock floods, but not around where I live. Have always been very courageous and indifferent to issues like this, but sometimes I think when you get older, and if you're ill, you become more cautious.

I was thinking of moving to Boulder, Colorado!! Now that would have been a disaster, someone my age and with my disabilities, trying to survive in those floods!!! I just don't want to be a burden to anyone, or die under unpleasant circumstances. To be smart, in other words.

[rr2005]

No offense, but I think you may have been confused on the tornado warnings last spring. It's not even possible to have 80 different tornado warnings in one area at the same time. Just FYI, I have lived in West Texas for 35 years and have never even seen a tornado in person. I think it's generally as safe as you're going to get in the natural disaster front. No hurricanes, no major flooding issues (because of the level ground), no mud slides, no real wild fires (due to the lack of vegetation), no significant earthquakes, etc.
I lived in San Angelo and really enjoyed it, but they have significant issues with water right now and the fracking is only going to amplify the issues, I'm afraid. Good luck-I hope you're able to find what you're looking for!

[jtaustin]

Originally Posted by rr2005

No offense, but I think you may have been confused on the tornado warnings last spring. It's not even possible to have 80 different tornado warnings in one area at the same time. Just FYI, I have lived in West Texas for 35 years and have never even seen a tornado in person. I think it's generally as safe as you're going to get in the natural disaster front. No hurricanes, no major flooding issues (because of the level ground), no mud slides, no real wild fires (due to the lack of vegetation), no significant earthquakes, etc.
I lived in San Angelo and really enjoyed it, but they have significant issues with water right now and the fracking is only going to amplify the issues, I'm afraid. Good luck-I hope you're able to find what you're looking for!

I should have clarified; not right in Lubbock (the 80 warnings), but in the areas *surrounding* Lubbock.

Yes, maybe you're right. I should probably stay; given my disabilities I'll probably have to, anyway.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Just a note here. According to the NWS, only 9 tornadoes were observed across the Lubbock County Warning Area (CWA) in 2012. Also keep in mind that the Lubbock Warning Area covers 24 counties (see attached map).

All the tornadoes in 2012 were brief and did no known damage.

[jtaustin]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

Just a note here. According to the NWS, only 9 tornadoes were observed across the Lubbock County Warning Area (CWA) in 2012. Also keep in mind that the Lubbock Warning Area covers 24 counties (see attached map).

All the tornadoes in 2012 were brief and did no known damage.

That's indisputable evidence that there were no damaging tornadoes in this area in 2012. But that's all it is.

What I've noticed in several years of posting my inquiry in forums about California, NM, Nevada, Colorado, etc.: every single person living in those areas, even if right on fault lines and in flood plains, say they're safe--safe, compared to other areas, safe since they've never experienced any difficulties. It's a natural human thing to do that.

I'm asking the impossible, of course: there is no guarantee of safety anywhere. I just want to make the right decision, and I can't. I'm stuck.

But please don't think I'm being argumentative; I appreciate your response, very much. I'm in so much pain, I can't even think straight any more.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by jtaustin

That's indisputable evidence that there were no damaging tornadoes in this area in 2012. But that's all it is.

What I've noticed in several years of posting my inquiry in forums about California, NM, Nevada, Colorado, etc.: every single person living in those areas, even if right on fault lines and in flood plains, say they're safe--safe, compared to other areas, safe since they've never experienced any difficulties. It's a natural human thing to do that.

It sounds as though you make a practice of going around C-D attacking people's homes? The damage information I provided for the Lubbock CWS was from the National Weather Service. It was not my own. The data and information was simply offered to refute the likelihood of 80 tornado warnings last year.

Also I never said the Texas High Plains is a safe place to live. You simply assumed I was saying that. You also make a wrong assumption that I haven't lost anything to bad weather on the High Plains. The rural High Plains is definitely not a place for the weak or the infirm but the City of Lubbock is as safe as any major American city that I have ever lived or worked in.

[jtaustin]

>> It sounds as though you make a practice of going around C-D attacking people's homes?

Sorry, I don't follow you.

>> Also I never said the Texas High Plains is a safe place to live. You simply assumed I was saying that.

No, I knew it was from some legitimate source. I said as much.

>> You also make a wrong assumption that I haven't lost anything to bad weather on the High Plains.

No, I wasn't thinking along those lines, assumed nothing personal about you whatsoever. I'm really not responding just to you; please don't be offended. There's no reason for it.

[afm_man]

Believe it or not, Lubbock is a very safe place related to natural disasters (check the maps, no earthquakes, no hurricanes, minimal tornado). Do a search for 'safest cities natural disasters' and you will find that the Midwest is the safest (areas around Northern Ohio). The problem is that they are pretty much all cold places. Denver is the only city on the list that I would consider.

I worry about the crime in Lubbock far more than natural disasters (apart from the heat and mosquitoes).

[High_Plains_Retired]

It's just hard for me to imagine that anyone could be worried about natural calamities in North America. I've lived in areas where there were hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, dust storms, ice storms, volcanoes and even politicians. None surpass my concerns for crime. Wait, I mentioned politicians didn't I?

[augiedogie]

OP: As far as natural disasters, Lubbock is one of the LEAST likely places for those to happen. Floods, no. Hurricanes, No, Earthquakes, NO, Tornadoes, Maybe, but not many. Rock slides, Avalanches, NO. Why don't you just purchase one of those pre-made tornado shelters, and stay here since you like it here so much.