Last amateur video of march 11, 2011 tsunami
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What do San Diego County residents have to know about Earthquake Insurance Policies, Risks and Costs?
Quality Claims Management views Earthquake coverage as catastrophic insurance. You will only need it if we have a really big earthquake. However, depending on where you live in San Diego and how much you have invested in your home, you may opt to get coverage. Here is what you need to know.
First, most standard homeowners, mobile home owners, condominium, and renter's insurance policies DO NOT cover earthquake damage. Similar to flood insurance, earthquake insurance usually must be purchased separately.
However, fire insurance is part of most typical homeowners insurance policies. This means your home insurance policy may cover a significant part of the damage if your home burns down or is damaged in a fire that is caused by an earthquake.
Much of the damage that often arises from an earthquake happens after the ground stops shaking. Gas lines that may have ruptured and start leaking can catch on fire and burn your home to the ground. In San Diego County, it is also very possible that your home may be consumed in a wildfire sparked caused by earthquake motion many miles away. A power line may have collapsed. A home may have caught fire because of the quake and flames traveled many miles through brush to your home.
Another major factor is water damage. Quakes often break pipes. Even small quakes can crack a water or sewer pipe that floods your home and can cause extensive damage to your floors, rugs, furniture - even to the structure of your home.
If your homeowner's insurance includes fire and flood damage, you should be covered for this "earthquake" damage - even if you don't have earthquake insurance.
Another danger from earthquakes is landslides. You may or may not be covered for this. You need to check your homeowner insurance policy to make sure of your coverage for both landslide and fires. If your home does burn down, are you fully covered? Will you be able to replace your home and all of your belongings.
Check our other articles about homeowners insurance for details about coverages and what you need to know.
Where do you get Earthquake Insurance?
The law requires insurers that sell residential property insurance within the state of California to offer earthquake coverage to their policyholders. Most of these California earthquake insurance policies are backed and administered by a government organization known as CEA - the California Earthquake Authority.
Even though most earthquake insurance policies are sold by the state-run insurance pool, a few private companies also sell earthquake coverage. In order to provide earthquake coverage, insurance companies can become a CEA participating insurance company and offer the CEA's residential earthquake policies or they can manage the risk themselves. To date, companies that sell over two-thirds of the residential property insurance in the state have opted to become CEA participating companies.
According to the CEA website, the CEA homeowners policy is designed to help get you back into your home after an earthquake. The CEA base-limits policy for homeowners includes:
Dwelling coverage - The coverage limit is the insured value of your home stated on your companion homeowner policy.
* Personal Property coverage - ,000
* Additional Living Expense/Loss of Use coverage - ,500
* You may select either a 10% or 15% deductible on your Dwelling coverage, and CEA's increased-limit options allow you to increase Personal Property coverage to as much as 0,000 and Additional Living Expense/Loss of Use coverage to as much as ,000.
Residential property insurance includes coverage for homeowners, condominium owners, mobile home owners, and renters.
Earthquake insurance is not intended for smaller losses as you must have enough damage to surpass your deductible. Even though deductibles are generally 10-15% of the amount of the Coverage A limits, it can be a little confusing to calculate the actual deductible amount since there are several factors that go into the formula.
How will your home handle an earthquake - Do you need Earthquake Insurance
- where in San Diego County do you live?
- what is under your house (rock, sand, fill, etc?)
- how is your home constructed - is it up to code and why that matters for your coverage
Age and type of construction contribute to how a residential structure reacts during an earthquake. Based on the scientific and engineering research, the CEA premiums reflect the following rating factors:
- In general, houses built on a slab perform better than those built on a raised foundation.
- One-story houses are less vulnerable to earthquake shaking than multi-story houses.
- Unreinforced masonry structures are more susceptible to damage than those of wood-frame construction.
- Houses of a certain age are not as strongly constructed as others.
The type of home you have affects your risk. One-story homes that are "tied together" -- with the roof bolted to the walls, and the walls to the foundation -- tend to survive earthquakes and windstorms better than multistory homes that aren't. As you would expect, houses with big openings, such as plate-glass windows or large garage doors, fare worse than ones without those features.
In addition, your home can be substantially fortified with some special construction measures. For many, this can be a better investment than buying earthquake insurance.
The Institute for Business and Home Safety has a Fortified For Safer Living" program that specifies building techniques that can help homes better withstand disaster.
Other California Earthquake Insurance Factors
No Known Loss Letter Requirement
In areas that have been previously affected by an earthquake or other catastrophic event, an insurer may require a "No Known Loss Letter" with all requests for earthquake insurance or to add earthquake coverage to an existing policy. These kind of letters letter confirms that no known losses or damages have already occurred to the requested coverage location(s).
DIC Policy
DIC (Difference in Conditions) insurance provides coverage designed to close specific gaps in standard insurance policies. It allows coverage to be customized to extend to such exposures as water damage, flood, collapse, earthquake, landslide, etc., according to the insured's needs. DIC coverage may be provided by means of a separate insurance policy or it may be added by endorsement to the basic policy.
Is Earthquake Insurance Right For You? How Much Equity Do You Have In Your Home?
As mentioned earlier, we view Earthquake coverage as catastrophic insurance. You will only need it if we have a really big earthquake. The more equity you have in your home, the more you need insurance.
According to UnitedPolicyHolders, a non-profit organization that fights for the rights of insurance consumers and educates individuals and businesses on how to get fair treatment, "a generally accepted rule of thumb is that you should not risk more than 10 percent of your liquid assets. A large earthquake could mean 10 to 100 percent of your home's structure could be damaged or destroyed, up to 20 percent of your belongings could be damaged, and/or you may need to come up with ,000 a month for temporary rent and relocation costs."
In San Diego, we get lots of smaller quakes on a regular basis. These are reminders to YOU to review your current coverages to be sure that you are adequately insured. Is your current homeowner's insurance up to date? Will it pay to rebuild your home to current building codes? Do you have additional coverage and riders for all the new stuff yiou may have acquired since you first bought your insurance policy?
Remember, it is far more likely you will have pipes break or fires start from the smaller earthquakes. If either of these happen, you should have coverage under your regular homeowners policy. Check to make sure it is up to date and that you have enough coverage. As a result of the 2003 and 2007 wildfires, we have found that most homeowners in San Diego are underinsured.
By the way, businesses should review their policies to be sure they have EQSL - or Sprinkler Loss coverage. There is a greater chance you will suffer damage from sprinklers leaking than from a building falling down.
by Ronald Reitz, President of Quality Claims Management
When is it Worth it to Get Earthquake Insurance?How many of you out there are feeling the pain and distress of hearing how these tornadoes, cyclones, earthquakes and wildfires are destroying many people lives? What can you as an individual or group do about this? How can America support these victims of disasters? (Something to think about) I think we should have some type of Disaster Fund from one source that supports the victims, right away.
Businesses, Families and Individuals should be able to access these funds when needed. This fund should be available in all countries and cities at one local department or business; maybe non-profit organizations can make it available. Or what about funding it through the payroll system. What do you think? Remember these disasters, whether tornado, earthquake, cyclone or wildfires can put a financial strain on those who do not have insurance. If this fund is funded through the payroll system, can it be tax deductible at the end of the year. What about setting up this account through the IRS.gov website. With these recent events we should all support in some way.
In addition, are we listening to the warning coming right from the Weather Channel? The experts Steve Lyons, who is a Hurricane Specialist and Greg Forbes a Weather Specialist constantly from day to day give us updates on this channel. It is important to listen to these experts on a day-to-day basis before you walk out you front door. We should also invest in a weather radio if we live in tornado or earthquake zone.
The latest news is that National Hurricane Center are looking for 12 to 16 named storms up to Category 3 starting June 1st. Are you Hurricane Ready?
Are You Disaster (Tornado, Cyclone, Earthquake) Ready?Scientists now agree that the likelihood of a major earthquake (magnitude of 6.7 or higher) hitting Southern California within the next 30 years is approximately inevitable. Such an event could have a catastrophic impact on our future, but with allowable preparation we can avoid some of the destruction. To generate awareness, the Earthquake Country Alliance has industrialized the annual "Great Southern California ShakeOut," an vast earthquake drill to take place this year on October 15. Millions of population have registered from businesses, schools and other organizations to partake in the drill and convention the allowable techniques to take in the event of a massive earthquake.
Get organized and take these seven protective steps:
Earthquakes are one of the most common natural disasters mankind has witnessed over time. The loss of human lives and their property is magnanimous. If you are living in an area that is naturally prone to constant seismic activities, it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to prevent or minimize any injury to yourself or your family members.
Arrange items in your homes in such a way that the fragile items or those made of glass and other breakable materials are placed on a lower surface, towards the ground instead of placing them on cupboards higher up. When there is an earthquake or a tremor, there is a minimal possibility of these objects falling on you or your family members, reducing the chances of you getting hurt.
Never place wall hangings, pictures or mirrors and glass items near your bed, sofas and other furnishing where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a violent movement, these decorative pieces would fall on the floor directly and not on you, minimizing chances of injury.
Educate your kids about safety tips. Teach them to call 911 during an emergency and not to panic.
There are high chances of the short circuits and fire breakouts during an earthquake. Make sure you fix cracks, faulty electrical connections immediately.
During an earthquake, lie beneath a sturdy material like a table, desk, etc. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Switch off electrical connections and gas. Do not use the elevator to go down. Use the staircases at all times. Do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric pole or tall buildings.
If you are driving, stop your vehicle and stay put. Do not park your vehicle under a tree or any tall object.
Earthquake Safety TipsOk, so first things first. The earthquake that struck Japan last week followed by the Tsunami and subsequent aftershocks is a terrible tragedy for Japan its habitancy and all associated and affected by it. My heart goes out to the whole country.
I cannot see how anything could not be moved by the images and the scenes of destruction shown by the media.
I have been asked by my team here how this will work on us over here and in our business. Clearly our hope is that our Japanese customers are Ok and unaffected by the quake, however right now we are yet to hear.
Right now there is a huge shortage of electrical components due to the earthquake in Japan. The Financial Times (Ft) states that 30% of the worlds flash memory (our Usb's included) are made in Japan! 10-15% of D-Ram which is a key component in every personal computer also made in Japan along with practically 40% of the worlds technology components.
Toshiba Corporation, the world's second-largest maker of Nand chips after South Korea's Samsung, has halted operations at its plants in areas affected by rolling power outages. Also, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. And Sumco Corp., which both make silicon wafers needed to furnish semiconductors, have temporarily stopped operations because of damage from the earthquake.
Clearly there will also be huge impact on the car manufactures with Honda, Toyota, and Nissan all having huge manufacturing plants production car parts in North east Japan.
When contribute goes down the price goes up, easy economics!
Any flash memory that was available to the store was brought in bulk by Apple, Dell and Hp over the weekend leaving the world with immense shortages, hence the increases we are seeing daily in the price of Usb's. It is unlikely to end in a combine of weeks and my gut feeling is that prices have some way to go before they come down again. I would advise clients to buy when they need and to accept the increases, I don't believe this qoute will be going away anytime soon!
Last Friday's earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed more than 10,000 people, while millions remain without power or adequate food. Near-freezing temperatures have forced 450,000 Japanese into shelters. Concerns continue to rise about radiation leakage from Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Despite the Japanese government pumping 3 billion of crisis funds into its economy, the country's stock store has fallen more than 10% in the last two days.
Take some time out of your day and say a prayer for the habitancy of Japan.
Simon
The Earthquake in Japan Affects Us All!We were fortunate in some respects, I had made a little book to account for earthquakes to our children and their friends. That was the way we used to teach them such things as pulling the blanket up over their heads, and it helped them stay calm. Many of the things I'm writing in this description can be applied to many natural disasters.
Children are curious, and it's hard to say how much they can suck up how soon. They need to know earthquakes are a part of nature, and if they live in a seismically active area they need to know that. Sit down with them and discuss your family's disaster plan.
When you make the earthquake kit, have them help. They will probably have some good ideas. You can discuss the reasons for many of the items at the same time.
Building Your Kit:
For the kids: Age approved foods should be included. Baby food, method and the like will have to be rotated out regularly, but it should be in there. Other baby and toddler needs contain diapers, wipes, rash cream, teething gel, teething rings, bottles, "sippy cups," pacifiers and so on should be included.
Toys: It might be wise not to show the children what toys you are putting into the kit, for two reasons. They may want to get them out before they are needed, and having a nice surprise could be a good emotional boost for them. Coloring books, drawing paper, crayons or markers are a good start. Older kids might enjoy board games, books and other age approved entertainments. If they have a hand held game (and it manages to survive the earthquake), extra batteries are a good idea.
Other Items: Food for a minimum of three days, but preferably for two weeks. Though it takes up more space, canned goods are better than dry goods, due to the possible shortage of water. Canned meats, vegetables and fruits are all good. You may want to add treat foods, both for you and the kids. Pots, pans, etc. Should be ready as well as a means to cook your food.
Water is an prominent addition. You'll need one gallon of water per someone per day minimum. Utilities could be out for as much as two weeks, so keep that in mind when calculating both food and water.
Don't forget the pets. Canned and dry pet food should be kept in your kit. If the pet is a cat, a bag of litter could be useful as well. Again, toys and treats for the pet are not a bad idea, they will be as stressed as you are, and maybe more as they don't understand what's happening.
Sanitation needs: Even if you use disposable eating products, you will still need to wash a few things. Dishsoap is a good addition. So is soap to keep yourselves clean, though you may be able to find alternatives at a backpacking store. In fact, you may find a lot of useful stuff there for your kit.
You'll need garbage bags for two reasons, and trash is only one. You can convert the bags into a means of getting rid of human waste as well. Again, the backpacking store may have better alternatives. Paper products, such as toilet paper, Kleenex and feminine supplies should be added. Paper towels are other good addition.
You'll need a collection of batteries. Flashlights and the radio are musts, though you may have a battery operated Tv, game consoles, lanterns and other battery operated products.
Clothing should be added to your kit. If the earthquake happens at night, you're not going to want to spend the next few days in your pajamas. You'll want to rotate the clothes, warmer for winter and cooler for summer. You may also want to have blankets, sleeping bags and/or a tent.
First aid and medications: Earthquakes are violent affairs, and there may be some injuries. If the quake is big enough, you may have to do some first aid while waiting for professional help. A approved kit contains pain relievers, antihistamines, bandages and the like. These are important, but you may need more. Some means to stabilize a broken bone, hold a gash together and so on are also considerations. We have a professionally put together crisis kit, plus my addition of herbal remedies that may be useful.
Prescription medications, eye glasses and other condition aids may need to be stowed in the in your kit. If you live with an older person, they could need a walker to get around. If you have room, these are very useful. Extra batteries for hearing aids should be ready if they are needed.
As you read this, you may come up with other additions to your kit. Bear in mind what I said in a former article, be specific where you store your kit. If it's not secured outside, someone very easily could swipe it. If it's in your house, you may not be able to get to it. In either case, it will do you no good.
If you are fortunate adequate to have an Rv or voyage trailer, you can use it to store your kit. This will allow you to add more things that can help articulate some level of relax in a easily uncomfortable time.
Earthquake Preparedness 3 - Helping the Kids and construction Your Earthquake KitWith an apparent increase in seismic activity lately, more and more people are talking about what to do if an earthquake should hit where they live. While some parts of the United States are more likely to be confronted with blizzards or hurricanes, it is important for countless other Americans to be ready. And unlike other disasters, where preparedness means one thing, surviving an earthquake and being prepared is a whole other scenario.
First and foremost, it is important to determine whether or not you live in a part of the country where earthquakes have been known to cause trouble. Obviously, citizens residing in California are far more likely to experience a quake than, say, those in Georgia, but this doesn't mean it isn't important to be prepared. While earthquake safety isn't a huge part of home security for Floridians, maps show that earthquakes have hit at one time or another in practically every state. There's no telling where the next one may be, so being alert is the best bet.
For those who have more of a reason to prepare, the first thing to do is consider how your house is arranged. If you have heavy bookshelves with lots of books across the room from your bed, for example, consider moving it to another part of the house. It is important to keep large, unwieldy objects away from the space where you sleep. Since earthquakes can strike at any time of the day, being in a prone position--like sleeping in a bed--is a recipe for disaster if there is furniture that can cause you harm. For the sake of your safety and home security, try to make sure larger pieces of furniture are not within falling distance of your bed.
There are a number of other ways you can prepare for an earthquake. Secure other heavy appliances to the floor, and try to keep particularly heavy objects and breakable objects at ground level and away from places you might be sitting. For example, don't hang the heaviest photograph you own over a couch where people might be sitting, but rather, choose a part of the hallway where, if an earthquake strikes, it is not liable to hit someone and cause physical trouble.
Another huge part of home security and earthquake safety is having your home well-stocked in case you end up having to stay there for an extended period of time without knowing ahead of time. Try to keep a couple day's supply of water and nonperishable food around, along with a flashlight and some batteries. It is also important to try and keep batteries and a battery-powered radio so that you can be up to date on any news that might be broadcast after things like phone lines and television lines are down. Staying informed is one of the secrets to surviving any sort of natural disaster.
During the actual earthquake, there are a number of safety tips to remember. Always stay indoors, or get indoors immediately. Try to move to the strongest, safest place in your house. Generally, this is far away from heavy objects, chimneys, and windows. Brace yourself and try to avoid any objects or debris. If you are outside, try to move away from any power lines and get away from buildings and trees that might fall down. After all, home safety is not just about your home during a natural disaster, but also the surrounding area of your yard and neighborhood.
Home Security and Natural Disasters - Earthquake Safety Tips