Many homeowners don’t think about securing an earthquake insurance policy, and for a variety of reasons. This could be because many Americans assume that earthquake damage would be covered under the same homeowners policy that protects against fire damage and other similar disasters. Or it could be because many people also believe that the threat of earthquake damage is only worth worrying about here in California, and that other states are not at risk for severe tectonic shake-ups. The truth is, though, that both of these beliefs are misconceptions, and if you hold to them, they could end up cost you dearly months, years, or decades down the road.

First of all, it is important to know that earthquake damage is actually not covered by traditional homeowners policies. “Earthquake insurance” may not be as well-known as other types of insurance, but it does exist, meaning that homeowners who want to protect themselves against earthquake damage need to obtain a second type of insurance policy on top of their homeowners insurance in order to do so.

Secondly, it is equally important to remember that earthquakes aren’t just confined to the West Coast. If you are living here in California, the wealth of fault lines around here mean that you absolutely need to have an earthquake insurance policy in order to protect your belongings and your home. However, even if you live hundreds of miles away from the San Andreas Fault, that doesn’t mean your area will never experience a quake.

On the contrary, earthquakes are a good deal more common than most Americans think. According to the United States Geological Survey, at least 39 states in the country are at risk for substantial earthquake activity. Granted, the majority of earthquakes are small events on the Richter magnitude scale, but every once in a while, the small quakes in these states give way to one devastating 6.0 magnitude quake that destroys homes, ruins possessions, and leaves fatalities or injuries in its wake. Because of this, in many areas, earthquake insurance is good to have on a “just in case” kind of basis.

Want to make a more educated decision on whether or not earthquake insurance would be anything more than money down the drain for you and your family? The U.S. Geological Survey frequently publishes earthquake statistics and hazard maps to help illustrate high and low-risk earthquake spots. Of course, California and the rest of the West Coast (including most of Oregon and Washington) are the country’s hottest spots for seismic activity. However, numerous other states are at risk as well, including other spots throughout the western part of the country (Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah) and even parts of the Midwest.

You will have to decide from researching your own area whether or not earthquake coverage is right for you. If you live in a seismic hotspot, though, getting quake coverage is a smart choice that can save you a lot of money and headache down the road. Contact Linares Insurance today to see what we have to offer in terms of earthquake insurance!