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July 9, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

In Case Of An Earthquake

Protecting yourself and your family

  • Be sure that all family members know how to turn off utilities (gas, water and electricity) in an emergency.
  • Make sure every family member knows where safe spots are in each room, such as under sturdy tables or desks or in strong doorways.
  • Identify danger zones in each room, such as windows, bookshelves and furniture, that may fall over and cause injuries.

Protecting your property

  • Check to see that your house has been properly “tied” to the foundation. Extensive damage is often done to homes that shift and slide on the foundation during an earthquake. A contractor can advise you about this and suggest whether lateral bracing of the house walls is necessary.
  • Be sure that water heaters and other gas appliances are properly bolted down or supported on the floor or wall.
  • Put the heavier, breakable items on lower shelves.
  • Search the ceiling and foundation for deep plaster cracks. Make the necessary repairs if there are signs of structural defects.
  • Make an inventory of your possessions and store it off the premises. If your belongings are damaged, this list will help facilitate the claim filing process.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “In Case of an Earthquake” http://www.iii.org website. Accessed July 10, 2020. http://www.iii.org/articles/in-case-of-an-earthquake.html

© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Disaster, Home, Personal, Personal Protection, Theme 13

July 9, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

Earthquakes: Protecting Yourself

Earthquakes

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes can happen without warning and can result in injuries and damage to property and roads. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. While they can happen anywhere, areas at higher risk for earthquakes include California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Mississippi Valley.

If an earthquake happens, protect yourself right away.

  • If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
  • If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
  • If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.
  • Do not get in a doorway.
  • Do not run outside.

Stay Safe During an Earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

Drop: Wherever you are, drop down on to your hands and knees. If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.

Cover: Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bent over to protect vital organs.

Hold on: If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with both hands.

Prepare Before an Earthquake

The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with family and coworkers.
  • Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.
  • Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated.
  • Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for at least three days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.
  • Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. A standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage.
  • Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake.

Stay Safe After an Earthquake

If an earthquake has just happened, there can be serious hazards such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines.

  • Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake.
  • Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training. Learn how to be the help until help arrives.
  • If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.
  • If you are trapped, protect your mouth, nose and eyes from dust. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall or use a whistle instead of shouting to help rescuers locate you.
  • If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops.
  • Text messages may be more reliable than phone calls.
  • Once you are safe, listen to local news reports for emergency information and instructions via battery-operated radio, TV, social media or from cell phone text alerts.
  • Be careful during post-disaster cleanup of buildings and around debris. Do not attempt to remove heavy debris by yourself. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy, thick-soled shoes during cleanup.
  • Register on the American Red Cross “Safe and Well” website so people will know you are okay.

 

Source: Department of Homeland Security, “Earthquakes” https://www.ready.gov website. Accessed July 10, 2020. https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes

© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Disaster, Home, Personal, Theme 13

July 9, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

Earthquake Insurance: Is it worth getting?

Standard homeowners, renters and business insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes. Coverage is available either in the form of an endorsement or as a separate policy.

Earthquake insurance provides protection from the shaking and cracking that can destroy buildings and personal possessions. Coverage for other kinds of damage that may result from earthquakes, such as fire and water damage due to burst gas and water pipes, is provided by standard home and business insurance policies. Unlike flood insurance, earthquake coverage is available from private insurance companies rather than from the government.

In California, homeowners can also get coverage from the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), a privately funded, publicly managed organization.

Is earthquake insurance worth getting?

If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you should at least consider the pros and cons of earthquake insurance. Start by asking yourself if you could afford to rebuild your home and replace your personal belongings without insurance.

Keep in mind that the federal government’s disaster assistance is limited. Grants for home repairs are meant to cover essential repairs only, to get your house to be safe and clean, not to restore it back to its original condition. Additional financial help is often in the form of loans that have to be paid back.

Many people find earthquake insurance to be pricey, especially considering the high deductibles that they’d have to cover anyway. If your quake damage amount is less than your deductible, insurance won’t pay out. But only you can do the math on whether earthquake insurance is a smart buy in relation to the potential payout.

© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Disaster, Home, Personal, Theme 13

July 9, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

IN: Earthquakes: Standard Insurance Policies Do Not Cover You

Dear Valued Customer,

While earthquakes are most commonly associated with California, they have occurred in 39 states over the last 100 years, and have inflicted damage in all 50 states. In fact, each year there are about 5,000 earthquakes.

This issue of “————–” is focused upon understanding the risks and issues associated with insuring for earthquake loss, and the importance proper insurance coverage can have – especially when standard homeowners, renters and business insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes. Coverage, however, is available in the form of an endorsement to a home or business insurance policy.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

Filed Under: Disaster, Home, Personal, Personal Protection, Theme 13

June 3, 2014 By Julian

In Case Of An Earthquake

People_FamilyPlanning

Protecting yourself and your family

  • Be sure that all family members know how to turn off utilities (gas, water and electricity) in an emergency.
  • Make sure every family member knows where safe spots are in each room, such as under sturdy tables or desks or in strong doorways.
  • Identify danger zones in each room, such as windows, bookshelves and furniture, that may fall over and cause injuries.

Protecting your property

  • Check to see that your house has been properly “tied” to the foundation. Extensive damage is often done to homes that shift and slide on the foundation during an earthquake. A contractor can advise you about this and suggest whether lateral bracing of the house walls is necessary.
  • Be sure that water heaters and other gas appliances are properly bolted down or supported on the floor or wall.
  • Put the heavier, breakable items on lower shelves.
  • Search the ceiling and foundation for deep plaster cracks. Make the necessary repairs if there are signs of structural defects.
  • Make an inventory of your possessions and store it off the premises. If your belongings are damaged, this list will help facilitate the claim filing process

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “In Case of an Earthquake”
http://www.iii.org website. Accessed January 26, 2017. http://www.iii.org/articles/in-case-of-an-earthquake.html

© Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Personal, Personal Protection, Theme 13, Uncategorized

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