Earthquake Insurance 101

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Earthquake Insurance 101

• By
• American Tri-Star Insurance Services

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• Anyone who is considering purchasing a home in
  California will need to think about earthquake
  insurance at some point. Even though the vast
  majority of earthquakes are not heard or felt,
  all it takes is a single natural disaster and
  your home could be ruined. Read ahead for a look
  at some of the benefits of earthquake insurance
  and why you might want to consider this type of
  coverage.

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Am I Already Covered?

• Unless you have spoken to your insurance provider
  about extending your policy to include
  earthquakes, you are most likely not covered.
  Unfortunately, many homeowners never realize that
  their basic home insurance policies do not cover
  these natural disasters until it is too late. As
  a general rule, homeowners insurance only extends
  to a handful of specific natural disasters such
  as hailstorms. Any additional coverage you would
  like must be added to your current policy.

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A Closer Look at the Coverage

• Because earthquakes are so common in this state,
  the California Department of Insurance requires
  brokers and firms to offer this coverage to their
  clients every year. A basic earthquake insurance
  policy will have three different components. The
  first component covers your actual dwelling after
  you have paid a 10 or 15 percent deductible. This
  does not include other parts of your property
  such as landscaping, a pool, or a gazebo. The
  second component covers some of the typical
  belongings in one's home like clothes and
  electronics. The final component actually
  provides you with an immediate lump sum to pay
  for living expenses at another location.

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Homeowners Who Need Coverage

• Homeowners should carefully consider a few
  different variables before deciding if they need
  coverage. The first step is to take a look at a
  local earthquake hazard map. These maps are
  published annually by the United States
  Geological Survey and the Federal Emergency
  Management Agency. You should also consider the
  value of your home and how well it has been
  fitted to deal with earthquakes. After you have
  this information, you can then discuss coverage
  options with a broker to see if earthquake
  insurance is right for you.

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Earthquake Retrofitting

• Retrofitting your home for earthquakes will not
  only improve your family's safety, but it will
  also lower your insurance costs. Almost all
  insurance providers maintain lists of safety and
  security updates that will reduce one's monthly
  premiums. For earthquake coverage, this often
  includes bracing the chimney, bracing the water
  heater, installing gas shut-off valves, and
  reinforcing the walls. Homeowners who are more
  comfortable financially can also reduce their
  premiums by increasing their deductibles.
  Determining if you need earthquake insurance is
  no easy task, but this unique form of coverage
  could be invaluable in the aftermath of one of
  these natural disasters.

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American Tri-Star is a Insurance company base in
San Diego, CA. We are specializes in auto
insurance, our highly experienced staff will
gladly answer all your questions, while getting
you started with the most comprehensive and
affordable insurance coverage available. Email
contact_at_americantristarinsurance.com Addr
ess 5945 Mission Gorge Rd. Ste 6-7 San
Diego CA 92120 Web http//www.american
tristarinsurance.com/ Phone No
619-272-2100 Fax No 619-283-9400