In l fairness, as a Bay Area native, I can say that southern California is practically a different state. :)
Back to the earthquake comment, that is a risk, but something that happens every decade or two or three. Bad weather is something you deal with all day, day after day. I've been here almost all of my life and have lived through two major earthquakes. Obviously you can't predict which fault will go next, but there is a lot you can do to prepare with earthquake retrofitting, not doing silly things like having lots of glass figurines in a free-standing cabinet, and buying insurance.