Earthquakes are a fact of life for anyone living and working in California. The IINC Earthquake Information Kit is a unique, one-stop resource for information on earthquakes. The kit includes historical perspectives, scientific research on the study of earthquakes, detailed financial and earthquake insurance coverage tips and important lessons on how to lower your risk of property damage and injuries from earthquakes.

History and Science of Quakes

Earthquakes
The earth’s surface is broken into plates that move and shift. When the plates bump up against each other, the sudden vertical or lateral movement releases seismic waves, which we feel as an earthquake.


Top Ten Most Costly U.S. Earthquakes
From the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 to the Loma Prieta quake of 1989 and the Northridge temblor in 1994, earthquakes have caused billions of dollars in damages.



The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
The earthquake and fire that devastated San Francisco on April 18, 1906 was one of the most significant natural disasters in the United States, as well as in the history of insurance. It produced insured losses of $235 million -- $4.9 billion in 2005 dollars.


Science of Earthquakes
Three major factors determine the effect of an earthquake on a building or home and what you experience.




Earthquake Insurance

The Evolution of Earthquake Insurance
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there is a 70 percent probability that an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or larger will strike the San Francisco Bay Area during the next 30 years.



The California Earthquake Authority
In September 1996, the state Legislature established the California Earthquake Authority. The CEA is a privately funded, publicly managed organization that provides residential earthquake insurance to Californians.


Earthquake Insurance Options
In most cases, homeowners are not required to purchase earthquake insurance. In fact, it is estimated that only 12 percent of California homeowners have an earthquake insurance policy.




Preparing for Quakes

Household Earthquake Preparedness
A checklist of those things that any homeowner can do to reduce their exposure to the fury of an earthquake.



Contacts
A listing of other organizations and contact information.