Earthquake insurance is available to homeowners nationwide. However, the special coverage is particularly important in California, which, after Alaska, is the most earthquake prone state in the United States.
If you own a home in California, you will have to purchase your earthquake insurance separately, as it is not included with most homeowners insurance policies.
Earthquake insurance premiums vary according to a number of factors, including whether a home has frame-wood or frame-stucco siding, which make it less susceptible to earthquake damage than homes built of brick or stone, which will crumble when jostled.
The cost of earthquake coverage depends on where you live. For example, in the Midwest, where earthquakes rarely occur, coverage can cost as little as 50 cents per $1,000 of your home´s value. On the West Coast, however, where earthquakes are a far more common occurrence, the cost is higher, often $15 per $1,000, or about $7,500 per year for a policy insuring a $500,000 home.
To learn more about earthquake insurance options, contact Agers Insurance Services, of Oakley, Calif.