Personal Insurance
Earthquake Insurance in California
California sits on some of the most active fault lines in the world, yet only about 10% of homeowners carry earthquake coverage. Standard home insurance does not cover seismic damage. Protect your home and family with a dedicated earthquake policy.
What Is Covered
Coverage at a Glance
Dwelling Coverage
Pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged by an earthquake. Covers the structure, attached garage, and built in appliances. Coverage amounts should match your home's replacement cost.
Personal Property
Covers your belongings, including furniture, electronics, and clothing, damaged by earthquake shaking, aftershocks, or related fire. This is optional on CEA policies.
Loss of Use
Pays for temporary housing and increased living expenses if your home is uninhabitable after an earthquake. This is also optional on CEA policies but highly recommended.
Emergency Repairs
Covers immediate repairs needed to prevent further damage after an earthquake, such as tarping a damaged roof or boarding up broken windows.
Chimney Coverage
Chimney damage is one of the most common earthquake claims. Your policy covers repair or replacement of your chimney if it is cracked, toppled, or otherwise damaged by seismic activity.
Foundation Damage
Earthquake shaking can crack or shift your home's foundation. Coverage pays for the often expensive repairs needed to stabilize and restore your foundation.
California Context
Why This Matters in California
California experiences over 10,000 earthquakes per year, and the state sits on multiple major fault lines including the San Andreas, Hayward, and Calaveras faults. A major quake is not a matter of if, but when.
Standard homeowners insurance explicitly excludes earthquake damage. Without a separate earthquake policy, you are responsible for 100% of the repair costs to your home, which can easily exceed $100,000.
The Stockton area sits near several active fault lines. The 2018 USGS forecast estimates a 72% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake hitting the Bay Area within 30 years, which would be felt strongly in the Central Valley.
Earthquake damage is not limited to the structure itself. A major quake can rupture gas lines causing fires, crack water mains, and shift foundations. The cascading damage can far exceed the cost of the initial shaking.
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) provides earthquake insurance through participating insurers like Farmers. CEA policies offer multiple deductible options to balance premium cost with coverage.
Pro Tip
The CEA Brace + Bolt program provides grants up to $3,000 for earthquake retrofitting. Retrofitting your home reduces both damage risk and insurance premiums. Ask us how to qualify.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Coverage Options
Get Earthquake Coverage Before the Next Quake
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