"Where NOT to build, that is NOT the question" Topic

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Locally, the propensity for developers to build on the east bench of the Wasatch Front has been a proverbial example of the foolishness of the masses, who all denigrate fancy homes until they get a chance to do it themselves, then of course, they buy a house up on the east bench. But everyone who doesn't live there will tell you that it's stupid: both in the short term, like this situation, where heavy rains loosen the hillside, and in the (probably) long term when the next "big one" (earthquake) hits this area.

Note, that in the article the authoritative statements are all about continuing on: nobody wants to admit that their investment is insane….

Where I have set my foot, it will not be withdrawn!

Just like those who insist on building on a known flood plain. Will they ever learn…

What burns me up is that in situations like these the families expect Federal and State Governments to come and pay to rebuild and to spend money to "protect" their homes from the next natural disaster. These protections often end up exacerbating the situation. As an example in my home state of North Carolina the delicate Outer Banks and other out lining chain of islands have been over built. Sea walls are built to reduce or prevent erosion buy the ocean. The result is that the natural tidal cycle of adding and shifting sand is altered and another beach along the coast line become more severely impacted and that group demands the same protections which then compounds the problem further.

If you chose to build in an area known to be especially prone to natural disaster you should have to live with the consequences.

Amen, kallman.

With you guys on that one. We run into that one here from time to time. Back in the 90's everyone was squalling about beach erosion and the possible loss of "valuable" beach front homes of the rich (like Michael Moore) who had built in the dunes overlooking Lake Michigan. Fools and their money.

Another disaster waiting to happen locally. Brigham Young, the originator of the townships along the Wasatch Front, Utah's main population center, warned the settling pioneers to not build within two miles of the Jordan river. Today the entire river is built up along both banks right down to the water's edge in many places. This, despite the scare of '83 when the water ran so high that it had to be sand bagged as high as six feet in some places, and still flodding of basements took place. The river and its tributaries were dredged and the banks reinforced with rocks, etc. But the time will inevitably come when we get such a runoff that all of the rivers and creeks hereabouts will overflow their banks. When the Jordan river swells beyond its banks billions of dollars in damage will occur. It's as inevitable as the altering weather cycles. Yet people build where they want to regardless. Enjoy your little waterfront views, O ye fools, and stay away from my money when your houses are all awash in flood waters and silt….

Or where tree roots get into the water lines fairly easily.

It's like the Land slide in Oso, Washington, the area was known to be unstable from 1937 & they still allowed building in the area.