West Virginia Earthquake Insurance
Earthquake insurance protects you from the cost of damage to your property.
Written by
Jessica Huneck is an insurance writer from TrustedChoice.com. She began her writing career in 2011 and has since earned herself a bachelor's degree in English writing.
Earthquake insurance protects you from the cost of damage to your property. You can get quotes from a local agent in West Virginia for affordable coverage against tremors and quakes.
Most homeowners and business policies do not include earthquake as a covered loss, yet quakes can strike almost anywhere. They can disable electronics, crack walls and foundations, and even level entire houses. Historically, West Virginia quakes have been mild and far between, compared to more volatile seismic zones. But even a small tremor can cause thousands of dollars in damage, which you must pay out of pocket if you don't have the right earthquake insurance in place.
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West Virginia Earthquake Facts
- On Nov. 19, 1969, one of the worst quakes in WV history hit, a magnitude 4.3.
- The central, southern and eastern reaches of WV are at higher risk of earthquakes than the northwest corner of the state.
- Parts of WV sit on a seismic hazard zone known as the Pembroke faults, and VA, to the east, is home to the Central Virginia seismic zone.
West Virginia is a historic American state, with many buildings dating back to the 1800s, as well as 20th century homes and storefronts. Older structures built before new earthquake codes came along in the 1970s are at increased risk of damage, even from a small tremor. Likewise, brick homes are more prone to damage than wooden homes because they lack flexibility. If you live in central, southern or eastern West Virginia, the chances that you will experience an earthquake during the course of a 30-year mortgage are very high. You can minimize the cost of damage with earthquake insurance.
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Do You Need Earthquake Insurance?
Tremors happen every day, all over the world. More than 10,000 moderate level quakes occurred in 2012 alone. West Virginia is one of the 42 states that are prone to moderate quakes. Usually, the damage is minimal:
- Broken windows
- A fallen TV or sound system
- Items jostled off shelves
- Cracks in the plaster
But occasionally, when a big quake hits, the damage can be severe. This could include a cracked foundation, broken walls, ruptured gas pipes and fire. Many quake victims find out too late that their homeowners policies provide zero coverage for earthquakes, leaving the victims themselves responsible to cover the cost of rebuilding.
Earthquake insurance is extra insurance coverage that you can add to your homeowners insurance to cover the cost of major earthquake damage. Some earthquake policies cover the home only, for the repair of cracks in the foundation, broken windows and fire damage. Other policies cover the house, the garage, personal property and outbuildings. You can get quotes on the level of earthquake coverage you want and decide on a deductible you feel is right. Remember, earthquake insurance protects your home and your possessions; it is not extra liability insurance meant to protect you from liability claims for damage or injury.
Cost: What Are Average Earthquake Insurance Quotes?
Your earthquake policy quotes will depend on the following factors:
- Your location, relative to local seismic hazard zones
- The value of your home
- The amount of your deductible
- How much of your property and home are covered
- Your credit score (as with all insurance coverage)
A local agent can discuss the details with you and give you personalized quotes that fit your specific set of circumstances and your preferences. However, as a rule, earthquake coverage is not very expensive, especially considering the cost of repairs and rebuilding after a major quake.
Earthquake insurance offsets the cost of major repairs, with a high deductible to keep it affordable. If you want coverage for smaller repairs and items, along with a lower deductible, the price will be higher. You can reduce the cost of your premium by retrofitting an older building to be tremor-proof and by installing a sprinkler system.
Save on Earthquake Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Get Customized Earthquake Insurance Quotes
You can get quotes on earthquake insurance for your West Virginia home by speaking with a local, independent agent. Agents in the Trusted Choice® network are able to speak with many insurance providers to find the right coverage at the right price for you. This makes comparison-shopping fast and easy and gives you peace of mind.
Contact a Trusted Choice agent in your area and get the right earthquake insurance for your home.