Earthquakes last 7 Days – Credit Leonard Geophysical Laboratory
# 7930
While Oklahomans are more accustomed to threats dropping down from the sky than they are from those rising under their feet, as I wrote about 10 days ago (see USGS: Oklahoma Earthquake Swarm Continues), Oklahoma has seen an abrupt rise in the number of small earthquakes since 2009.
A reminder that that threats can change over time, and with that, so must our readiness and response.
The swarm of (mostly small) earthquakes - particularly north and east of Oklahoma City - continues unabated, which has prompted the Insurance Commissioner of the state to remind residents that regular homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage, and encourages them to buy earthquake coverage.
First stop, the press release, followed by some `Earthquake Insurance’ realities, after which I’ll be back with a bit more.
Commissioner Doak Encourages Homeowners to Purchase Earthquake Insurance
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak is encouraging Oklahomans to purchase earthquake insurance after a new report predicts continued seismic activity in the central part of the state. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said central Oklahoma has experienced more than 200 magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes since January 2009.
“Looking into earthquake insurance after your home or business has sustained damage resulting from an earthquake will do little good to help you recover,” said Doak. “Now is the time to protect yourself before the next one occurs.”
USGS reports an average of 40 earthquakes per year in Oklahoma from 2009 to 2013, an increase from an average of two to six yearly from 1975 to 2008. Oklahoma’s record-breaking 5.6-magnitude quake in November 2011 destroyed 14 homes and damaged dozens more. However, an estimated less than one percent of Oklahomans carry earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners or renters insurance policies do not cover damage caused from earthquakes.
The State of Oklahoma provides an Earthquake Insurance `Basics’ webpage, which provides a great deal of information on how to obtain coverage, and some of the limitations of these policies.
Earthquake insurance typically must be purchased apart from a standard homeowners policy, either as an “endorsement” added to the policy by the company that carries the purchaser’s homeowners insurance, or as a separate policy from a company specializing in earthquake coverage. Consumers will also have to wait a period of time – usually 30 to 60 days – after the most recently reported earthquakes in their area before they can purchase new earthquake insurance, due to the likelihood of aftershocks. The cost of an earthquake policy varies depending on factors, including the carrier and the policyholder’s desired level of coverage, but typically an Oklahoma homeowner might expect to pay between $100 and $150 per year for earthquake insurance. Earthquake policies frequently have nuances, such as providing or not providing coverage for brick or stone veneers on the home. Earthquake insurance carries a separate and often substantial deductible, apart from the standard homeowners deductible. Often this deductible is calculated as a percentage of the insured property’s value – commonly 5 to 10 percent, but occasionally lower or higher – meaning that a $100,000 home would require a deductible of $5,000 to $10,000.
Less costly, but no less important, is having a good earthquake disaster plan, and the supplies you will need in the event of a major quake.
While many natural disasters – like hurricanes, wild fires, and tornados – have a `season’, earthquakes can come at any time and without warning. Which means that any earthquake plan – particularly in the North and Midwest – must anticipate what you would do if a quake hits in the middle of winter.
Compared to West Coast earthquakes, those that occur in the Midwest and Eastern half of the country tend to be felt across a much larger area (see USGS: Eastern Earthquakes - Rare But Powerful). The following shake map from the USGS shows the areas reporting shaking from two recent quakes, a 6.0 in Central California, and the recent 5.8 Virginia quake. By an incredibly large margin, the smaller eastern quake was felt over a much bigger area.
And the effects of an earthquake can go far beyond the loss of life and property damage. Ripple effects caused by economic losses can affect regions far removed from the epicenter. In 2011, in The Ripple Effect, we saw that 2/3rds of all businesses in New Zealand were economically impacted by the Christchurch earthquakes.
Working to improve earthquake awareness, preparation, and safety is Shakeout.org, which promotes yearly earthquake drills and education around the country (see NPM13: A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Going On). If you live in one of these seismically active areas, I would encourage you to take part in these yearly drills.
As a bare minimum, everyone should have a well thought out disaster and family communications plan, along with a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last at least 72 hours.
In When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough, I highlighted a colorful, easy-to-follow, 100 page `survival guide’ released by Los Angeles County, that covers everything from earthquake and tsunami preparedness, to getting ready for a pandemic.
The guide may be downloaded here (6.5 Mbyte PDF).
While designed specifically for the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County, this guide would be a valuable asset for anyone interested in preparing for a variety of hazards. And in Los Angeles, the advice is to have emergency supplies (food, water, etc) to last up to 10 days. In my humble opinion, 2-weeks in an earthquake zone isn’t overkill.
To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with all types of disasters, I would invite you to visit the following preparedness sites.
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/
And lastly, in NPM13: The Greatest Prep Of All, I wrote about what I consider to be the most important preparedness step you can take – having, and being, a disaster buddy. Cultivating a network of family and friends to whom you can turn for help in a disaster, to who can turn to you for aid, if they need it.
Because no matter where you live, its just a matter of time before the next disaster strikes.
