SACRAMENTO, California — Last week's back-to-back earthquakes in Southern California has a lot of people wondering if we're prepared for the so-called "Big One?"
Experts told ABC10 that while there isn't an active fault that goes directly below Sacramento, there are several in the Bay Area that would impact our region when a major earthquake strikes.
ABC10 talked to Asher Styrksky, an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance, about what you need to know if you're thinking about getting earthquake insurance.
Q&A WITH ASHER STYRSKY
Q: Should people living in the Sacramento region have earthquake insurance?
A: "It's hard to gauge. When I look to answer that question, I look at what the institutions are requiring. You can borrow $500,000 to buy a house, and the bank doesn't mention you needing earthquake insurance, so it's not a really high risk. The chances that a tree would fall on your house, or it could catch fire, or you be robbed, or vandalized is much higher. We should get all the insurance all the time, but it cost money, so where that rates in people's priorities is up to each individual homeowner."
Q: Does homeowners insurance cover earthquake damage?
A: "Home insurance never covers earthquake damage. There's no home owner's policy that covers that."
Q: How much does it cost?
A: "Earthquake insurance is only a couple hundred dollars a year. It used to be that you only had only one set option, and it was $200-$300 a year. Now, you can kind of mess with your coverage and deductibles. I did a quote recently on my own home and it was like $180. It's easy to get a quote, you just contact the agent that handles your home owner's insurance. All carriers in California will provide you with a quote."
Q: What should people consider before getting earthquake insurance?
A: "Do you want your property coverage? Do you want money to be there to rent a home for you while your home is being reconstructed after the earthquake? Those are some things that you can tweak and change on your policy."
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