Question

Why do people settle in areas that have natural hazards?

Answer 1

Mostly because they live with little taxes and that helps the families

Answer 2

maybe because if others are "frightened" of living there, there may be more space ? But, there could be a price to pay, if the hazards strike = earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. So, to get reasonable insurance cover might be a problem.
Or because they're "prospecting" for wealth - gold rushes, diamond rushes etc ???

Answer 3

The main reason these days is that they don't know they're moving into disaster prone regions.
Its not exactly something a realtor is going to say.
Also the fact that there is an increase in development into disaster prone lands since population densities and money.

Take California as an example, they continue to build on the boundary of a wildfire prone area and continuously encroach on this area. Well, why dont we chop down all the trees so there arent any wildfire. The problem to this is the fact that then you'd get mudslides.
But when you're buying the house, the realtor isnt going to tell you that your house might burn down in the summer, or you might get buried under dirt in the fall or spring.

So the biggest reason is lack of education

Answer 4

I could go on with the examples, ive actually taken a course on this.

Now, how about the people who know they do live in disaster prone areas, like tornado alley. Why dont they move away to a safer area. there could be numerous reasons why people would wish to remain in a single area, but Id imagine the biggest reason is money.

Some people just don't have the means of being able to relocate themselves.

Answer 5

@sooobored
You mean the President-elects of this world wouldn't tell people that they're moving into a pot disaster area !!!! Sounds also a tad like the "sub prime mortgage" catastrophe of a few years ago.