After a major Pacific Northwest earthquake, the damage can come from several directions at once. Each may be a different insurance question. Here is how they sort out.
A quick map
| Cause of loss | Usually reviewed under | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquake shaking | Earthquake policy or endorsement | Usually separate from the home policy |
| Fire after earthquake | Homeowners policy may respond | Confirm the resulting-loss wording |
| Tsunami | Flood insurance | Tsunami water is generally a flood question |
| Flood | Flood policy (NFIP or private) | Usually excluded by the home policy |
| Landslide / earth movement | Often excluded or hard to insure | Needs separate review |
| Vehicle damage | Auto policy | Comprehensive coverage may apply |
Earthquake shaking
Direct shaking damage to the structure and contents is what earthquake insurance is built for, subject to limits, exclusions, and the deductible. This is the coverage most people picture, and it is the one your standard home policy usually excludes.
Tsunami and flood
This is the gap coastal homeowners miss. Tsunami damage is water damage, and water damage from flooding is generally a flood insurance question. Washington’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner notes home and renter policies usually do not cover flood, and FEMA confirms flood is separate coverage, with tsunami addressed through the flood program. A Cascadia event off the coast could bring shaking and a tsunami together, answered by two different policies.
Landslide and earth movement
Earthquakes can trigger landslides, but landslide and earth movement are commonly excluded or difficult to insure. Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation notes landslides generally are not covered and can be hard to insure. If your home sits on or below a slope, this is worth a specific conversation.
Fire following an earthquake
Here is a point in the homeowner’s favor. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners notes that fire or water damage from burst pipes after an earthquake may be covered under the homeowners policy, even though the shaking is not. The exact outcome depends on the policy’s resulting-loss wording, so confirm it rather than assume it.
Vehicles
A car crushed in a quake is generally an auto insurance matter, covered only if you carry comprehensive coverage. It is not part of the earthquake or home policy.
What to do with this
Map your home against the table. If you are coastal or near water, look hard at flood. If you are on a slope, raise landslide directly. If your home is older or masonry, fire-following and structural questions matter more. The point is not to buy every policy. It is to know which questions apply to your address and decide on each one. We can compare your coverage across these exposures together.
Questions to ask your advisor
- Which of these causes of loss actually apply to my address?
- Given my location, should I review flood coverage alongside earthquake?
- If my home is on or below a slope, how is landslide treated?
- How does my policy handle fire or water damage following a quake?
- Would a vehicle damaged in an earthquake be covered, and under which policy?
Want guidance first? Compare your coverage. Already know what you need? Get a quote.
Continue the series
You are reading part 5 of Earthquake Insurance in Oregon and Washington: What Homeowners Should Know.