August 23, 2011 Unusual Earthquakes Leave Many Wondering: Is My Home Covered? Debbie Saathoff, 62, of Bowie, Md., says she heard a giant cracking sound first. Then the pictures flew off the walls and vases on shelves came tumbling down and smashed as her home moved back and forth. “It was the scariest thing I have been…
April 11, 2011 Will Americans pay attention to earthquake insurance now? The advice can’t get any simpler than this: “People who live near fault lines should have earthquake insurance,” says Amy Bach, executive director of the United Policyholders consumer organization. Will the disaster in Japan be the crisis that compels Americans in quake-prone areas to pay…
April 4, 2011 Shaken and Stirred The horrific images and aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami should be a call to action for property owners and public officials, and not just in California. There are known (and unknown) faults in the mid-west and throughout the United States. Yet in California…
March 28, 2011 Are you insured for the Big One? Just 12% of homes in the state with fire insurance also have earthquake coverage, according to the California Earthquake Authority. Here’s what consumers shopping for coverage need to know. Reporting from Sacramento— The massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan will cost insurance companies billions…
March 23, 2011 New Zealand earthquake preparedness: Authorities battled complacency Wellington, New Zealand New Zealanders have received a violent wake-up call: It’s past time to be prepared for the “Big One” – the long-feared major earthquake authorities have been warning about for years.As this small island nation picks up the pieces from the 6.3-magnitude earthquake…
August 5, 2010 The Great Shake Out: Drop, Cover and Hold-On! To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, United Policyholders is participating in The Great California Shake Out today at 10:15 AM! Find more information about this drill at shakeout.org and get ready to Drop, Cover and Hold On! The Great Misconception: Time…
July 7, 2010 Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It? Earthquakes are one of the natural disasters that are not typically covered under conventional homeowners insurance policies. And while many people think that Californians are the only ones who need to worry about earthquake insurance, the reality is that earthquake risk is far more widespread…
June 22, 2010 Disaster Readiness in San Diego Earthquake, typhoon, wildfire. “What I see from other parts of the world, even the nation, I think California could learn more,” reflected University of California, San Diego Professor José Restrepo. The director of Operations for the Charles Lee Powell Structural Laboratories lived through a 7.2…
June 14, 2010 Is Earthquake Insurance Worth the Cost? I am not much of a fan of “could it happen here” stories, but the earthquake in Haiti does remind us that much of the United States, in fact much of the world, lives along fault zones. In the last 110 years, quakes have shaken…
June 10, 2010 UP/FIRM Winter NAIC meeting presentation: “Toward greater efficiency in funding disaster recovery through private/public insurance” (ppt) http://uphelp.org/pdfs/NAIC%20Dec%202009%20Mtg%20National%20Cat%20Presentation3.ppt
June 10, 2010 Haiti quake stirs concern in California The devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last month has shaken up residents in other earthquake-prone areas, including the Bay Area, prompting renewed interest in earthquake insurance. “The horrible tragedy in Haiti has focused people a little more on earthquake risk,” said Glenn Pomeroy, the CEO…
June 9, 2010 Why Earthquake Insurance Is Tough Sell, Even In Bay Area Bill Clingan was around when the Loma Prieta earthquake sucker-punched the Bay Area 20 years ago. His Walnut Creek home suffered no damage, which is why he feels comfortable today not having earthquake insurance. “It’s very expensive. Deductibles are high. It’s just not worth it,”…
June 9, 2010 Southland homeowners at risk for mudslides have trouble finding insurance Some residents of areas burned by the Station fire are buying flood policies on top of fire and earthquake plans, hoping that at least one will accept mudslide damage claims. Charred slopes in the foothills towering above William Johnson’s La Cañada Flintridge home are now…