Why are hurricanes scarier than wildfires?

Question

One of the main reasons that people give to move to California over Florida is that Florida gets hurricanes. But California gets wildfires, and there seems to be more wildfires in California than hurricanes in Florida. Also, you usually get more of a warning of a hurricane (up to a week) than you get with a wild fire. So what am I missing?

Answer 1

I really think that wild fires would be scarier.

I suppose it's because California is more respected as far as insurance goes. You know, because everyone in the south is just a dumb backwards redneck, and Californians are... Californians.

I'm sick of how stupid insurance companies think we are.

Anyway, hurricanes are also incredibly, incredibly destructive. A forest fire hits, you have the next county to run to. A hurricane hits, you head north, and north, and north until the destruction stops and you can check into a hotel.

Also, California has all kinds of fun tectonic activities. Earthquakes and mudslides, unexpected and destructive! Yay!

Answer 2

I guess because wildfires don't tend to be as massive as hurricanes in region, not that they can't cover a wide area. They aren't as much of a threat generally because measures are usually in place to prevent them to some degree. I think I'd rather ride out a hurricane at home vs a wildfire though.
Personally, I think Florida tornadoes are a lot scarier than hurricanes, though the tornadoes don't get the same buildup timewise when watching the news. You don't get much time, if any, to prepare and run. No basements to hide in around here. The wind force tends to be higher than that of a hurricane, therefore more devastating.
I think that people choose California over Florida because California has better infrastructure and more intelligent sociable people. They don't seem to hold the cultural bias that a lot of Southerners do. I've lived in both, but chose Florida for less expense and warmer climate.

Answer 3

There is a lower chance of having your house burn down than having your house flooded or ruined by a hurricane. Also you can specifically move to not be surrounded by bush and wildlife to lower your chances of a fire. Also, once a fire burns it takes a while for vegitaion to grow back thus lowering your chances again.

Answer 4

I worked as a weather observer at one time and it was kind of crazy and intense, during severe weather. I would be clear at 9-10am but by noon towering cumulus and 4-5pm heavy showers, thunderstorms and sometimes hail and/or Tornadoes. Very busy and exciting in a way.

Answer 5

WELL CALI ALSO GETS EARTHQUAKES, MUDSLIDES AND WILDFIRES...... I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND YES THE HURRICANES ARE PRETTY SCARY..... THE WILDFIRES ARE SCARY AS WELL, BUT AT LEAST IN FLORIDA, YOU ARE FOREWARNED... EARTHQUAKES, WILDFIRES AND MUDSLIDES!!! i WILL STICK WITH FLORIDA....