Hiding from Nature's Wrath: SFNE

According to a mildly scientific study conducted by Slate.com, when it comes to avoiding and surviving natural disasters, the safest area of the United States is, you (may not have) guessed it: New England.

After combing through a variety of data about hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods--and the accompanying death toll--on a state-by-state basis (and eliminating some states outright for their sheer proximity to danger, such as volcanoes), three New England states came out on top in terms of safety, at least when it comes to natural disaster:

Of the 18 states, only three had a fatality rate lower than 0.01 per thousand for the last decade: Connecticut (0.00587 per thousand), Massachusetts (0.00299), and Rhode Island (0.00286). These figures are somewhat surprising, given that all three of these New England states have ample coastlines and are thus susceptible to fierce storms. But they are also more immune to hurricanes than their southerly counterparts, virtually free of tornadoes, and blessed with relatively cool summers and winters that, although cold, aren't quite North Dakota cold. They're also affluent—all three boast family median incomes above the national average—and, as Hurricane Katrina reminded us, socioeconomics matter when it comes to preserving life during natural disasters.

And what area of the country turned out to be safest of all? Huskies unite: none other than Storrs, Connecticut:

It's a safe 50 miles from the sound and not close to any rivers. It also has relatively easy access to a major city (Hartford) in the event an evacuation or hospitalization becomes necessary.

Thanks to Michele for the link.