When people think about earthquakes, they usually think about California. But the Pacific Northwest sits along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, capable of very large earthquakes, and Utah's Wasatch Front lies along the Wasatch Fault, where most of the state's population lives. Washington and Oregon officials, and the U.S. Geological Survey, have urged residents to prepare. Yet many homeowners in these states don't carry earthquake insurance. This guide explains how coverage works outside California and how retrofits can reduce damage and, with some insurers, premiums.
For California-specific details, including the California Earthquake Authority, see our California earthquake insurance guide.
Homeowners insurance excludes earthquake damage
Standard homeowners policies almost everywhere exclude earth movement, including earthquakes. Fire following an earthquake is usually covered, but shaking damage to the structure, contents and additional living expenses isn't. Earthquake coverage must be added by endorsement or bought as a separate policy. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner explains this for consumers: Washington OIC – Earthquake insurance. Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation offers similar guidance: Oregon DFR – Earthquake insurance.
How earthquake coverage works
- Deductibles are percentages. Earthquake deductibles are usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, often in a range like 5% to 25%. On a $500,000 dwelling limit, a 10% deductible is $50,000. Some policies apply separate deductibles to the dwelling, contents and other structures.
- Coverage parts: dwelling, other structures, personal property, and loss of use (additional living expenses), sometimes with sub-limits.
- Masonry exclusions or surcharges: some insurers exclude or surcharge masonry veneer and chimneys, or brick and unreinforced masonry homes.
- Waiting periods: insurers commonly suspend new earthquake coverage after a significant quake, so buying after shaking starts isn't an option.
- Private market: outside California there's no state-run earthquake pool like the CEA, so coverage comes from private insurers and surplus lines carriers, and price and terms vary widely. An independent broker can compare.
Why retrofits matter
Many older wood-frame homes in the Northwest and Utah were built before modern seismic codes. Common vulnerabilities:
- House not bolted to the foundation. The house can slide off during shaking.
- Weak cripple walls, the short wood walls between the foundation and the first floor, which can collapse.
- Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings and chimneys, a known hazard in older neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, Seattle and Portland.
- Unbraced water heaters, which can tip over, break gas lines and start fires.
- Soft-story buildings with garages or open space on the ground floor.
A typical residential retrofit bolts the house to the foundation and braces cripple walls with plywood. FEMA's homeowner guidance on these retrofits is in FEMA P-1100, Vulnerability-Based Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings: FEMA – P-1100. Water heater strapping and securing heavy furniture are inexpensive steps anyone can do.
Do retrofits reduce premiums?
Sometimes. In California, the CEA offers a premium discount for qualifying older homes that have been retrofitted. Outside California, discounts depend on the insurer. Some private earthquake insurers ask about foundation bolting, cripple-wall bracing, construction type and water heater strapping, and price accordingly. Ask your agent:
- Does the insurer offer an earthquake discount for retrofits?
- What documentation is required (permits, contractor invoices, inspection)?
- Does a retrofit change eligibility for lower deductibles?
Even without a discount, a retrofit can reduce the chance that damage exceeds your deductible and may reduce the risk of the house being uninhabitable.
Washington
- Washington's coastline and Puget Sound region face risk from the Cascadia Subduction Zone and crustal faults such as the Seattle Fault. The Washington Geological Survey (Department of Natural Resources) publishes hazard maps and tsunami information.
- The Insurance Commissioner encourages consumers to compare earthquake deductibles and coverage options and notes that buying a policy is a personal decision based on finances and risk.
- Seattle and other cities have studied and pursued programs related to unreinforced masonry buildings.
Oregon
- Oregon faces Cascadia risk along the coast and in the Willamette Valley, and the state has run seismic resilience planning efforts for years.
- Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation explains that earthquake coverage is a separate purchase, and that deductibles are typically a percentage of coverage.
- Portland has a large inventory of older homes and URM buildings, making retrofit decisions especially relevant.
Utah
- The Wasatch Fault runs along the Wasatch Front, near Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden. Utah officials have long encouraged homeowners in older brick homes to retrofit.
- Salt Lake City has run a "Fix the Bricks" program aimed at helping homeowners strengthen unreinforced masonry homes, funded in part through FEMA grants. Check the city's current program status before planning around it.
- The Utah Insurance Department publishes consumer information about earthquake insurance; contact it for current guidance.
Preparedness beyond insurance
- Make a family plan and kit with water, food, medication and a way to shut off gas.
- Know your utility shutoffs.
- Practice "Drop, Cover and Hold On," and join the annual Great ShakeOut drill: ShakeOut.org.
- Make a home inventory before a disaster. Our free home inventory template makes it easier.
Earthquake insurance checklist for WA, OR and UT
- ☐ Confirm your homeowners policy excludes earthquake
- ☐ Compare earthquake endorsements and standalone policies
- ☐ Understand percentage deductibles in dollars
- ☐ Check masonry exclusions and loss-of-use limits
- ☐ Evaluate a retrofit: bolting, cripple walls, chimneys, water heater
- ☐ Ask about retrofit discounts and documentation
- ☐ Buy before shaking starts. Insurers suspend sales after quakes.
Contact us or call (877) 711-4545.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover earthquakes in Washington, Oregon or Utah?
Generally no. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake shaking damage. You need an endorsement or separate policy.
How do earthquake deductibles work?
They're usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage, so a 10% deductible on a $500,000 limit is $50,000.
Do retrofits lower earthquake insurance premiums?
Some insurers offer discounts for retrofits such as foundation bolting and cripple-wall bracing. Availability varies by insurer.
Is there a state earthquake pool outside California?
No. Washington, Oregon and Utah rely on private insurers, so comparing options is important.
Can I buy earthquake insurance right after a quake?
Often not. Insurers commonly suspend new earthquake coverage for a period after significant earthquakes.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.