Earthquake Insurance for Washington Residents: Is It Worth It?

Situated on many active faults and fault zones, Washington state has one of the highest risks of earthquakes in the country.1 More than 1,000 earthquakes occur in the state each year, and about a dozen are big enough to be felt.2

The most recent large earthquake, known as the Nisqually quake, was a magnitude 6.8 that occurred on Feb. 28, 2001, near Olympia. Damage estimates are between $500 million and $4 billion.

Most standard homeowners and renters insurance policies don’t cover earthquake damage. Fortunately, you can purchase a stand-alone earthquake insurance policy or add it as a separate endorsement to your existing homeowners or renters policy.

What to know about Washington earthquake insurance

The state of Washington is highly prone to earthquakes. Since most standard homeowners and renters insurance policies don’t cover damages caused by earthquakes, you might consider earthquake insurance to protect your home and personal belongings.

Earthquake insurance provides coverage if an earthquake destroys or damages your home. You can purchase a separate policy or add it as an endorsement to your homeowners insurance.

Coverage typically comes with a high deductible of 10%–25% of the structure’s policy limit. Your coverage will only kick in if damages exceed your deductible. With some policies, you might have to pay a separate deductible for unattached structures, such as garages or retaining walls.

Before you can get earthquake coverage, some insurers might require an inspection of your property. This is because some companies have specific coverage requirements, such as:

• Home bolted to its foundation

• Interior walls braced

• Fixtures, such as water heaters, secured with strapping guards

What earthquake insurance covers

The state of Washington has many active faults and fault zones, with some of them crossing under major cities like Seattle. The largest active fault in Washington is the Cascadia subduction zone. This fault has been responsible for some of the largest and most damaging earthquakes worldwide.

Earthquake insurance can help ensure you’re properly prepared for a larger earthquake. These are some of the common items that earthquake insurance covers:

Some earthquake policies might cover damages to other structures that aren’t attached to your home, the costs associated with meeting current building codes, or to stabilize the land under your home.

What earthquake insurance doesn’t cover

When looking for earthquake insurance, review the policy carefully or speak to an insurance agent to confirm what it does and doesn’t cover. 

Here are some common items that earthquake insurance doesn’t cover:

• Fire damage

• The land your house stands on

• Vehicles

• Pre-existing damage

• External water damage

• Damage from landslides, settlements, mudflows, or rising, sinking, and contracting earth, unless they’re due to an earthquake

Some policies won’t cover damage from floods, tidal waves, or tsunamis, even if they result from an earthquake.

Your homeowners insurance may cover fire damage caused by an earthquake. You can also ask your auto insurance company if your policy covers earthquake damage.

Earthquake insurance for renters

Renters insurance is similar to homeowners insurance but is for people who rent a home or apartment. A standard renters policy typically pays for earthquake damage to your personal belongings. Since Washington is a high-risk area for earthquakes, you might want to consider an earthquake policy or add it as an endorsement.

Earthquake insurance for renters covers many of the same categories as a homeowners policy, including personal property, debris removal, and loss of use. Like homeowners earthquake insurance, you have to pay a deductible before your coverage kicks in.

How to file a claim for earthquake damage

If you experience an earthquake and need to file a claim for damages, follow these steps:

Cost of homeowners insurance in Washington

Allied is the cheapest homeowners insurance company in Washington. But it may not be the right carrier for your coverage needs. 

The table below breaks down some of Washington’s cheapest home insurance companies.

How to protect your home from earthquake damage

You can do several things to prepare and protect your home from earthquake damage, including:

• Build an emergency kit. You never know when an earthquake will strike, so you should prepare an emergency kit for your home, car, and work. Include items like water, non-perishable food, and a first aid kit.

• Anchor your house to its foundation. Houses that aren’t secured to the foundation can move during an earthquake. You should also anchor your deck and chimney to the house.

• Secure furniture and valuables. To prevent items from falling during an earthquake, ensure items like televisions, bookcases, refrigerators, and computers are secured. Use hooks or safety hangers for mirrors and pictures. Use childproof latches for cabinet doors and drawers.

• Secure small items. Use putty or velcro to secure smaller items in place.

• Brace the water heater. Freestanding water heaters can come loose during an earthquake and topple over. To ensure your water heater stays put, secure it with a bracing kit.

• Secure the propane tank. During an earthquake, an unsecured propane tank can tip over and start a fire. Ensure your tanks are secured, and consider installing an automatic gas shutoff valve.

Washington earthquake insurance FAQs