Niv Levy: Preparing US Homeowners for Earthquake Damage Risks
Jan 8, 2026
Originally published on Ziddu
Understanding and Preparing for Earthquake Damage as a US Homeowner
Most homeowner’s insurance policies in the United States do not offer coverage for damage caused by earthquakes. Depending on where homeowners live and their risk of earthquake damage, they should consider investing in two impactful tools to mitigate earthquake damage: earthquake insurance and earthquake retrofit construction projects.
Before exploring the two main options for mitigating the cost of earthquake damage repairs, property owners should educate themselves on the basics of earthquake frequency and earthquake damage in the US. The nation typically experiences approximately 176 earthquakes each year, according to the US Earthquake Report, although only about 16 of these are major earthquakes. However, both earthquake frequency and intensity have increased in recent years, increasing the likelihood.
Earthquake distribution is not even throughout the nation. Homeowners in Alaska, California, and Hawaii face a significantly higher risk of earthquake damage compared to other Americans since these states are along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of subduction zones that generate considerable tectonic activity. Other states carry an above-average risk for earthquakes, including Washington and Oregon, which are adjacent to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, as well as Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, and Texas.