What to say to a nervous spouse

I don't think any of those areas were affected at all - at least not Amalfi and Venice...

Show him this map, and point out where Venice and Amalfi are: http://earthquaketrack.com/p/italy/recent

If that doesn't work, smack'em up side the head.

All the locations you mentioned are hundreds of miles far from the areas affected by the earthquakes.

Just to give you some perspective, the town of Assisi, which is only 25 miles from the epicenters, suffered no damage whatsoever.

Tell them that is like saying that it is not safe to travel to Seattle because there was an earth quake in San Francisco.
Not really but will get the point across. The areas you are looking at are not on fault lines, the places affected are near on fault lines along the Apennine mountain range and have experienced many earthquakes in the past not just 2016.

Ditto to the above: get out a map and show him how far away the affected areas are from where you intend to go. As wisely pointed out, popular tourist spots much, much closer - like Assisi - didn't have any damage at all. The areas you're looking at aren't anywhere near the Apennine fault line.

We have had this discussion many times in past and the reality is that you cannot use logic, facts, etc. to change the opinion of someone who has, by definition, an irrational fear. Regardless of what you say or do, the response will be, "Yes, but ..." You live in Florida - how do you justify living with all those hurricanes? The Mississippi river valley is long over due for a major quake. Keep CA off you list since they are equally overdue. The risk for earthquakes is rising because of global warming but the specific risk of an earthquake at any one time in any one place is still very, very low.

If you are truly engaging in risk assessment, then you should know that your greatest risk for bodily injury will be the drive to the airport. But we think twice about that because we know from experience that the over all risk is low. No experience with earthquakes in Italy so the assumption is that it must be high. Why?? Three in the last four months. Nope, it is too risky. She has to come to the conclusion that it is safe. Little that you can say or do will speed the process.

That's like saying, "Don't go to California because they have earthquakes." Or any other state in the Union for that matter. Your destinations are just fine, and are more well developed than the hill towns in the Apennines. I say no worries.

It is not true that Amalfi is completely safe in that regard. In 1980 there was a big earthquake in the province of Campagna (where both Napoli and Amalfi are located). This quake left 3000 dead! Besides, I don't need to remind you Mount Vesuvius, which was called recently the most dangerous volcano in the world (given its proximity to a large urban center and the fact that it has not erupted since 1944 which is way longer than its usual in between eruptions intervals). I have been there less than a month ago and the crater is literally smoking! Inspite all of the above I would go, because Italy is gorgeous and that the recent quakes were indeed far from the regions you mentioned

No, logic may not necessarily work on someone like this. Yes, a map will show that the places you are visiting are nowhere near the affected areas. But far more compelling is that earthquakes can happen just about anywhere! I fear for our education system as I see this type of question posted a lot. Riding in the car to the airport is the most dangerous thing you will do statistically!
However, the areas you plan to visit are not without earthquake risk, and it is also true that many buildings in Italy are not built to withstand earthquakes (even new ones). That is a sad fact, but not something that will alter my plans to visit again.
This is the best article I saw about the situation and relative earthquake risk in Italy.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/08/24/why-the-earthquake-in-italy-was-so-destructive/
If you live in California, near Memphis, or in the Pacific Northwest, then tell him pot meet kettle.
Go without him!

Tomer's comment just throws fuel on an irrational fear. The crater is always smoking at Vesuvius and it may blow tomorrow but the odds are very, very low. At least with most volcanoes these day you do get some warning. Something happening in 1980 has no impact on what may happen tomorrow or in six months. If we look at everything that has happened in the past, we would be frozen in place. Personally I think the possibility of a terrorist act is greater than an earthquake but that is so low on my list of concerns that it is on the back page. We are just back from a month in France and more than one friend thought we were risk takers going to Paris.

Caryn,

I'm not sure that any amount of logic and facts will convince someone who is already convinced that there's a risk. As the others have so aptly pointed out, the areas you're planning on visiting are somewhat distant from the part of central Italy where the most recent quakes have occurred. Also a lot could change between now and next May. The Pacific Northwest is long overdue for a major quake to occur any day, but that doesn't stop people from travelling here.

There are risks in travelling anywhere, but the bottom line is that there are no guarantees. Sometimes it's necessary to just "go for it" and take a calculated risk, especially as you have your "heart set on it". In all likelihood your trip will be wonderful. I agree with a previous comment - if your spouse won't go, leave him at home and you and the sibling can enjoy a fantastic holiday in Italy.

Deny him sex until he changes his mind.

That will work better than any statistical data or maps.

As a kid in Los Angeles, on February 9, 1971 I was awoken at 6 a.m. by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake. It scared the kid out of me! Then there was that 6.7 magnitude quake in '94. Plates are still sliding daily around here and I am still in one piece, thankfully. However, I would never live in Florida since there's hurricanes, alligators, and flying cockroaches there. It's all about perspective, and some apprehension is normal. Have a great trip.

True Frank. Every time I visit Napoli, which is almost every year, there is at least a slight plume of smoke coming from Vesuvio; volcanic eruption is different from earthquake fault lines, however. The earthquake noted in Campania is one of many, and the city of L'Aquila was devastated a few years ago. in 2012 there was an earthquake in Emilia Romagna.
Travel can be delayed or disrupted in the areas near the epicenter so that track can be inspected. Monuments and public buildings will be temporarily closed to assess damage. But that would only affect nearby areas, not the entire boot.

love that Roberto humor :-)

You decide how you want to live your life. There are no guarantees so if others are not willing to go just go without them. If you let "what ifs" dictate your life you would go nowhere and the roof could still fall on your head....

The magic word is Italy. There was an earthquake in Italy, we are going to Italy, therefore we are in danger of earthquakes. Pretend it is 1844, so you will be visiting Veneto region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilys, not Italy.

And how do you manage to survive in Boynton Beach with all those horrible hurricanes?

Damn those Nature programs on PBS. We live very near a super volcano that is 30,000 years late on it's current eruption cycle. And there have been some recent rumblings that are a little different than in the past couple hundred years. Wife asked if maybe we should move?

My opinion is that if he cannot be convinced, then just go without him. Travel with your sibling. Nowhere is risk free, and that includes staying at home.

What to say to a nervous spouse

"If we can't go to Italy my mother is going to spend a few weeks with us.

James E. , that will increase the risks of staying at home!

You cannot convince him. My position would be, I'm an adult, I've evaluated this and I am going. I appreciate your concern and I expect you to respect my decision. That may not work in your relationship.

Think of Venice as you would Florida. Venice was man-made by pounding about 1 million oak tree trunks into the water/lagoon area and built upon over 1,000 years ago. It's kind of like Key West. If Venice was ever hit by a single large quake, it would not exist anymore. Venice is not in a geologically earthquake prone area anymore than Florida is. California and Seattle are more dangerous. Enjoy!

I'm sorry did you have a question I can't remember I'm too busy reflecting on the AMAZING 17 days we just spent in Italy!!!! Seriously, my husband a I work a block away from our State Capitol and sometimes go into the Capitol multiple times a day, I think our weekdays are statistically way more dangerous than our vacation. Go have fun!!!

Sounds like an excuse to stay at home. I'd give in and just plan France instead.

I think we have significantly brow beat Caryn into never coming back. Caryn there is no secret answer. You know your spouse. We don't. My spouse tends to worry a bit about everything. But she will happily go along till something happens and then it is, "See, I told you that would happen." After 47 years I gotten use to it and it doesn't bother me a bit because we rarely have a problem. Give it your best shot. That is all you can do.

PS She has kept me from going to Egypt and killed going to Turkey last year.

I would go without him! You don't want to miss any part of Italy!

I would be more concerned about crossing the street and getting hit by a car than earthquakes in Italy. Or anywhere for that matter.

Italy is almost twice the size of Florida. The distance from Amalfi to Venice is about 475 miles. The area affected by the earthquakes is about half way but if you travel by train is actually skirts the endangered area. So both Amalfi and Venice are over 200 miles from the earthquakes took place.

And even when you are on the train near the quake area, what are the odds of a quake happening at exactly that time?

I'm a CA native so I live in a state that quakes each and every day.

Was at Candlestick Park for the 89 World Series when the Loma Prieta quake hit. I remember wondering what it was going to feel like when the stadium gave way and I fell backward from the top row in right field onto the pavement.

Was in LA for the Northridge quake.

Was in Kearney Nebraska in the mid 80's watching a tornado set down in Grand island 40 miles East.

In my 50's drove solo through Texas storms where the sky turned completely black, rained so heavily wipers barely worked. The lightening was blinding and the thunder hurt my ears.

I've spun out on interstate 80 when hitting black ice.

If the spouse is really frightened of weather have them come to LA and drive in traffic during a rainstorm ( so infrequent these days it would be rare but....)

Angelenos simply cannot drive in the rain.

Life in general is a crap shoot.

Fretting over something that cannot be controlled is IMHO a waste of energy.

I was in Orvieto less than two weeks ago for the biggest earthquake since the '80s in Italy. The epicenter was around 100 km away, in Norcia where a very old church came down. In Orvieto it was scary but nothing like Loma Prieta in 1989 here in Northern California. There are other risks in Italy, liked bars over windows that can't be released in case of fire (think that's a law in CA), plus no smoke detectors in hotel rooms sometimes. I was on top of the Campanile in Florence a week ago Thursday, and I did think about what would happen if a big quake hit. But the thing has been standing for what, 700 years. Even if a big quake hit, you are probably talking a couple of thousand fatalities in a city of 350,000. Your odds are pretty good. Not to dismiss the dangers of unreinforced masonry construction, which is pretty common in Italy I think among very old buildings. Still, more likely getting killed on the shuttle ride to the airport.

And today there was a large earthquake in New Zealand, with tsunami predicted and cities evacuated.

As usual, Roberto's advise is the best!
Most of the things we fear never come to pass so worrying about them is a waste of time.