If you live in a state with a higher risk of earthquakes, you may consider getting earthquake insurance to protect your property. Learn more about earthquake insurance, including how it works and what is—and isn't—covered.
Whether they shake, rattle, or roll—a little or a lot—earthquakes can cause major damage to your home and your belongings inside. Even a relatively small quake could crack the foundation, topple furniture, or do far greater destruction. If you live in the West, you probably already know all that. But would it surprise you to learn that most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage? Because they don’t. To protect your property, you’ll want to purchase an add-on or standalone earthquake policy.
Earthquake insurance offers three main types of coverage.
Earthquake insurance typically covers:
Even the best earthquake insurance policies usually don't cover:
Rebuilding your home is your responsibility.
You might expect the Federal Emergency Management Agency to swoop in and solve your problems after an earthquake, but that’s not really how FEMA works. The feds focus on meeting people’s immediate needs following a natural disaster, such as providing medical care, food, and clothing.
As the agency informed victims of a major earthquake in Alaska: “Insurance is always the first line of defense when a disaster causes damage to your home and personal property, and by law, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance or other benefits.” You may apply for federal grants or loans after a quake, but repairing or rebuilding your home, and replacing any damaged belongings, is your responsibility.