Friend told me that she didn’t want to go to a CA school because she was afraid of earthquakes. As a CA resident, I didn’t realize that was that big of a drawback.
But when you think about it, it’s pretty scary isn’t it? If there was an earthquake like one from 1908, you probably don’t want to be in the middle of it. Aren’t scientists saying that the “Big One” is long overdue as well? There aren’t that many states that have earthquakes or other natural disasters (minus Blizzard and such I guess) looming like that so it’s not like you have no where else to go.
I mean, I don’t think I’m going to suddenly flee to a different state but I was wondering if other people thought about this too.
There are plenty of looming natural disasters threatening schools across the country. Take this from someone whose d had to evacuate New Orleans after a certain hurricane. After that, I have always recommended that parents and students have some sort of concrete, rational evacuation plan in the event that their school is effected by any of the following: hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, terrorist attack, or monkey takeover (Planet of the Apes sort of stuff). With the exception of the latter event…this stuff happens.
btw, I live in So California and I do have a plan for the family as well as my business,
I am a parent of a CA student from a flyover state. I admit, we talked about it and looked up what to do in case of an earthquake before she left for school. We also have a deal that she will text that she is okay after any noticeable quake no matter when it happens day or night so I don’t see a headline the next morning about a quake and worry about her safety.
Oh and I forgot to add a true story. My brother-in-law would not let his D go to LSU “cuz I’m afraid a her gettin et by alligators”.
It’s funny to me that anyone would think about this as a factor. Then I reflected that we worried about crime on one campus, and snow on another, and when we asked current students about these issues, they thought we were ridiculous.
You can stop worrying with an earthquake kit under the bed (sturdy shoes, gloves, flashlight, etc). California building codes are written with earthquakes in mind.
Whatever will keep someone up at night worrying is a factor to that particular individual (be in earthquakes in CA, living in a big city, floods in New Orleans etc…). Some fears may not be completely rational but that does not make them less real to that person. The fact is that bad things can happen anywhere.
I’d venture to guess that no California college student has died in an earthquake in at least the past 25 years. Maybe 1 or more in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake? Many more must have been the victims of campus rapes, or alcohol-related automobile accidents, which affect students all over the country.
My wife and I are alumni of McGill University in Montreal. Last fall we were representing McGill at a college fair in suburban Boston. One parent said he would not let his son go to McGill :“Too much snow in Montreal”.
To those who are saying that there are other problems, it’s not like you can’t consider earthquakes as well as crimes? It’s more like there hasn’t been a big earthquake recently that I thought about it more because a big one is bound to come.
In college as in life you are free to be worried about anything you want. I am just surprised that you think California has some sort of monopoly on natural disasters.Big one or not --more people in the US have died from hurricanes and tornadoes.
Well, just because I haven’t hit Powerball yet, does it mean should buy a ticket?
There are plenty of other reasons to include or exclude schools
There are terrible natural disasters in literally every part of the country. Plus, earthquakes really aren’t as common/powerful as people think they are.
Im from califronia and trust me when i say earthquakes arent scary at all. ive lived through many throughout my life and the worst that ive seen is my glass move a centimeter and thats it. they hardly ever occur and scientists have been talking about the big one for a long time and it isnt something you really think about. life just goes on and you kinda forge that earthquakes even happen
In 1908, there weren’t building codes for construction.
So I am sure the building codes have been continuously strengthened over the years. But I also assume it is not feasible to retrofit all old buildings, so assume that in reality some buildings are more impervious to quake damage than others. So… maybe I will encourage my kid to live in the new dorm being built on campus next year. 
I don’t think so. I want to go to college in CA too. It seems in the US, tornadoes are more common than bad earthquakes.
Well, of course they are statistically more common. But when a big earthquake happens, it can be devastating.
What about Kent State? And Gtech? My nephew was teaching in the building next to that Gtech shooting incident. No wonder he “transferred” to USC, perhaps earthquake is safer than “Bang Bang Bang”? 
I know people who moved to Detroit after the Nortridge earthquake. Nothing pleasant about earthquakes, but California is such a wonderful place that it is very difficult for California kids to go to college somewhere else.
At the end of the day, anything that causes YOU concern is a valid factor to consider. Whether or not it’s a factor for a stranger online doesn’t matter.