# Should Carnut Move to Bellingham, WA? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153 "2023-04-04T20:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/61 "2023-04-06T05:05:29Z")
When I think the Seattle area I think of Mt. Rainier erupting and the Cascadia Fault going off. So that’s a big no for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/62 "2023-04-06T11:02:17Z")
You are assessing risk poorly. Both of those are unlikely and even if they happen, will probably not damage you. Major earthquakes are rarities, and by far the largest danger is a building falling on you because it wasn’t built to code. See: Turkey. In newer buildings they just make a mess you have to pick up. Volcanic eruptions are far rarer than that. Much more common these days in the far West are forest fires. I’ve lived through huge fires, floods, a catastrophic earthquake, droughts, and of all of them, it’s only fire that scares me. Fire takes everything. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/63 "2023-04-06T13:08:20Z")
How much of Seattle is built to code? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/64 "2023-04-06T15:02:24Z")
My wild ass guess is the majority, since it is a mostly new city except for the downtown area which must have a good many 19th century buildings, and it has liberal politics and money, two things necessary for public safety enforcement. Wooden buildings are really quite safe – plywood-reinforced, especially – if they are bolted to a perimeter foundation, which is standard in the West. Many old wooden houses in earthquake areas have had their foundations retrofitted – something to check when home buying near a fault. In the 1989 Loma Prieta quake (I lived smack in the center of that), almost no one died, considering it affected an area containing some 6 or 7 million people. The only buildings that were destroyed were unreinforced masonry, which is rare outside of old downtowns; thousands of brick chimneys collapsed, however. Stay out of 19th century brick buildings. You’re better off taking your chances in the street. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/65 "2023-04-06T16:40:56Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > of course, you need to have decent lung capacity. This is a concern for me as I have asthma. But Taos is right out because of my mold allergies. Can’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/66 "2023-04-06T22:51:22Z")
I’m much more worried about areas with tornadoes and hurricanes. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/67 "2023-04-07T00:27:38Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > But Taos is right out because of my mold allergies. The lower end of Taos is 6900’, so your mold allergies are very much not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2023, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/68 "2023-04-07T03:26:19Z")
There are very few places in NM where mold is going to be a problem. We are even apparently too dry for dust mites! ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/69 "2023-04-07T04:47:49Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Stay out of 19th century brick buildings. You’re better off taking your chances in the street. Back when I still lived in Seattle, I worked in three different brick buildings, two of which were of immediate post-fire construction in Pioneer Square, so _old_. The city is aggressive about enforcing seismic retrofitting. Both of the buildings I worked in were extensively braced, essentially being brick facades on steel frames. The internal timbering was a marvel. Giant beams and pillars of the most beautiful straight-grained wood. I never worried about earthquakes there. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/70 "2023-04-07T15:45:40Z")
Bonus! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/71 "2023-04-12T18:57:25Z")
I was in Seattle for the last major earthquake. > **[2001 Nisqually earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Nisqually_earthquake)** > > The 2001 Nisqually earthquake occurred at 10:54:32 local time on February 28, 2001, and lasted nearly a minute. The intraslab earthquake had a moment magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The epicenter was in the southern Puget Sound, northeast of Olympia, but the shock was felt in Oregon, British Columbia, eastern Washington, and Idaho. This was the most recent of several large earthquakes that occurred in the Puget Sound region over a 52-year period and cause The... I was literally on a ferry heading to the city when the quake hit. I didn’t even feel it on the water. When we got to the city there was a LOT of broken glass everywhere. But that was most of it. I know some older buildings had severe damage but there weren’t many of them. My own work building in Pioneer Square was closed off a bit for inspection but it was fine. The city is pretty prepared for earthquakes. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/72 "2023-04-12T19:46:19Z")
I was a little closer (Tacoma) on the sixth floor of a fourteen story building. My main recollection is how well the emergency drills worked: we had our zones swept and reported to the floor coordinator and were at the assembly point within three minutes of when the shaking stopped. (Other thing I recall is someone from the nearby restaurant / pool hall who went around passing out tickets for free games. I remember commenting to one of my colleagues that this was the sort of thing that made the country what it is today.) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/73 "2023-04-12T20:32:08Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I was literally on a ferry heading to the city when the quake hit. I didn’t even feel it on the water. Oh, man, you missed it? It was awesome. _I_ felt like I was n a boat. Fortunately, the couch was align keelwise to the rocking, which made it less uncomfortable. What a year that was, with the monolith in the park and all. Bellingham would be ok, but it lacks the weirdness of Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/74 "2023-04-12T22:37:53Z")
Sadly, I’ve had to postpone my fact-finding mission to later in the year due to passport issues. Or lack of current passport issues. While I managed an appointment at the Seattle office because I couldn’t get one here in Minneapolis in time, it was just taking too much risk that I wouldn’t get it. Why is that a big deal? Well, because I was going to stay with northerly friends for much of my visit and I simply can’t afford to stay in a hotel and deal with transportation expenses. So, I’m applying for the passport here, and will reschedule my visit when I have my passport in hand so I can cross the border. Why is the U.S. so worried they will lose my sorry arse to Canada that I couldn’t just go across in my friend’s car? I was warned they would demand that I prove that I was scheduled to come back across the border upon entry to CA. I’m too broke for Canada to want me either. Paranoia is rife apparently. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/75 "2023-04-12T22:58:38Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > While I managed an appointment at the Seattle office Wow, I’m amazed you got that appt. Passport generations and renewals is an absolute shit-show right now. My wife had to cancel a work trip because she couldn’t get her renewal done, even paying for the expedited service which should’ve got her the passport in plenty of time. Call wait times were in the multiple hours range, and when she finally got through, no in person appointments nation wide. This was back in January so maybe it’s clearing up. I did my online renewal at the same time (we get our passports at the same time) but didn’t do expedited since I had no international travel plans. Took 13 weeks. The online progress meter never moves so you have no clue about the status. The worst part is, once you start the renewal process your old passport is no longer valid. So, you better not have any possible need of international travel when you hit that submit button. I checked their Twitter feed when we were in panic mode and the outrage was easy to spot. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/76 "2023-04-12T23:23:48Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I’m much more worried about areas with tornadoes and hurricanes. My town had a [tornado](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Port_Orchard_tornado) touch down a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/77 "2023-04-12T23:28:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Oh, man, you missed it? It was awesome. The crazy thing is that my then-girlfriend was visiting from Florida and I was taking her to Seattle to show her around. We got off the boat and I turned to her and said, “I promise you it’s not normally like this.” ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/78 "2023-04-12T23:30:54Z")
An Enhanced ID is all you need to cross into Canada and back. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/79 "2023-04-12T23:55:02Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > Sadly, I’ve had to postpone my fact-finding mission to later in the year due to passport issues. [per DHS](https://www.dhs.gov/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative): > [@](#): > > ## What types of documents are accepted for entry into the United States via land and sea? > > - U.S. citizens can present a valid: U.S. Passport; Passport Card; Enhanced Driver’s License; [Trusted Traveler Program](https://www.dhs.gov/trusted-traveler-programs) card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST); U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders; U.S. Merchant Mariner document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Card. An enhanced DL is slightly easier (and ceaper) to get than a passport. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153/80 "2023-04-13T00:02:34Z")
**Ssounder** is correct that all you need is an enhanced ID. It shouldn’t be too big a deal to get one, and is much less complicated than getting a passport. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-carnut-move-to-bellingham-wa/982153.md?page=5)