OIC joins Great ShakeOut drill – are you prepared for an earthquake?

The OIC is joining the Great Washington ShakeOut drill tomorrow, along with more than 1 million other participants in Washington state.

In addition to practicing drop, cover and hold, in what other ways are you prepared for an earthquake? Here are some tips from the OIC to help you think about ways you can protect yourself and your home in the event of an earthquake:

• Standard homeowner’s policies do not cover earthquake damage. If you want to protect your investment in your home, you should contact your agent or broker about purchasing earthquake insurance. The coverage typically carries a deductible of up to 25 percent of the value of your home and pays if your home is destroyed by a quake. The time to buy it is before a quake strikes … the coverage is typically not available for a period of time after an earthquake hits. Watch Commissioner Kreidler explain earthquake insurance in a short video. 
• Earthquake insurance does not cover damage that results from floods or tsunamis. You must purchase flood insurance, available through the National Flood Insurance Program, to be covered for flood damage. Read more about flood insurance. 
• Make claims easier by creating an inventory of the contents of your home by filling out this PDF list. There are also apps that allow you to create a home inventory using your mobile device. 

Questions? You can contact our consumer advocates online or at 1-800-562-6900.