Here's Why You Need Earthquake Insurance. Even If You Don’t Live in California

Most residents living in southern Illinois experienced a shocking wake up call this morning.

At 4:30 a.m. local time an earthquake, which measured 5.4 on the Richter scale, hit the Midwestern area, centered six miles from West Salem, Illinois. Though the area rarely experiences earthquakes, it does lie on a fault line and in 1968 another magnitude 5.4 quake (the largest recorded in the region) caused damage in southern Illinois. However, after this morning's rupture there have been no reported injuries or significant property damage from the disaster.

Many people associate earthquakes in America with California, and while the state does experience the majority of the seismic activity in the country, this morning's quake is a reminder that earthquake preparedness is not just for left-coasters.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 5,000 quakes can be felt each year and since 1900, earthquakes have occurred in 39 states and have caused damage in all 50. (According to the U.S. Geological Survey, this morning's quake was felt in parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas and even shook buildings in central Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and St. Louis.) In addition to California, the primary earthquake areas are Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska. There are also major fault lines in the St. Louis area, the Salt Lake City area, and the Charleston area.

But no matter where someone lives, earthquakes are not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance policies. Kip Diggs, a spokesperson for State Farm Insurance says that in order to be covered, homeowners must take out an endorsement on their existing homeowner’s insurance policy. You don’t have to live in prime earthquake country to get one. State Farm offers endorsements in 49 states. (In California, coverage must be procured from the California Earthquake Authority.) Allstate is another company that offers catastrophe coverage, which can include earthquakes (ALL).