As someone from Washington State now living in the USVI, hurricanes are definitely something that is a real threat, but you can prepare and have time to plan and build certain ways. I considered the risk before moving here and historically this place gets hit hard every few decades. But it’s not like every hurricane that happens is close to here, see the gulf and east coast. The electrical infrastructure here is terrible tho. Power goes out on normal days. So many people have solar, tesla batteries, generators, starlink etc. Building correctly goes a long ways, but obviously there’s big risks.

Having experienced several earthquakes growing up, none thankfully that bad, but enough to knock things off walls and have the power go out, the total uncertainty of when the BIG hits honestly wore on me in ways. Like being stuck in traffic on an old overpass, these huge concrete stairwells in a school I was attending, I would have moments like wtf I’m dead if it happens now. I think most big buildings and infrastructure is engineered to withstand a big earthquakes, but that fault line at some point will likely change the entire coastline. And it seems like experts say it could be 100 years or 10,000 years but it’s happens and it could happen this year because it’s 700 years overdue for a big one. Just the total uncertainty is why I’d have brief moments of oh shit I hope it doesn’t happen now. At least with hurricanes you monitor the wave formation off the coast of Africa and have a week or so to prepare. And or get off island if you have the means and opportunity.