Earthquake insurance provides essential protection for your home and your belongings in the event of a disaster, but surprisingly, many California residents aren’t covered. According to the California Earthquake Authority only 12 percent of California residents have earthquake insurance. If you are among the unprotected, it is time to rethink that decision—here’s why.

1. Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Cover Earthquakes

A homeowners insurance policy is a wise investment that protects your home and your property from many disasters, but it is important to know that most homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage. If you want your home to be protected in the event of an earthquake, you’ll need to invest in additional coverage.

2. Earthquakes Are Destructive

According to a recent study, earthquakes cause approximately $4.4 billion dollars of damage every year in the United States. Of that $4.4 billion, a whopping $3.3 billion is attributed to earthquake damage just in California. Without insurance, California residents will be faced with repairing all that damage without financial assistance, which could be impossible for many people.

3. Earthquakes Are A Real Risk

Earthquakes don’t destroy cities every day, but they are a very real danger. Residents living on the west coast are particularly at risk. On March 15, 2015 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released an earthquake forecast for California. In that report, the USGS states that the risk of large earthquakes in California has increased for the next few decades. A destructive earthquake in your area is a real possibility.

4. Earthquake Insurance Can Be Affordable

Earthquake insurance is a smart investment, especially for California residents. Talk to an insurance agent about ways to make earthquake coverage more affordable. You may be able to receive a discount if you use the same insurance company for multiple policies.

Contact Best Insurance today to learn more about the wide variety of earthquake insurance options available.