Earthquake coverage is not considered part of a homeowners or renters policy. In order to obtain Earthquake insurance the insured must already have either a homeowners or renters policy.

For California residents your Insurance Company may be one of the nineteen companies belonging to the California Earthquake Authority - (CEA). Their motto is Every day is earthquake season in California®.

Residents of Washington State can also get coverage through Geo Vera Insurance by contacting 1-800-324-6020. This can also be done through your Insurance Agent. Coverage Breakdown. Their motto is " get the Stability you need in shaky times".

Earthquake Coverage is available for those residing in condominiums and mobilehomes. Earthquake coverage includes additional living expense (ALE), the dwelling and personal property. The Insurance will cover temporary residence, meals, laundry, furniture rental and storage to maintain your standard of living while your dwelling is being fixed during a reasonable time period due to Earthquake damage.

My policy is through CEA via Allstate Insurance Company. Therefore, should I ever have a claim I would contact my agent and not CEA directly.

According to Insure.com, "Residents of the State of South Carolina are encouraged to purchase earthquake policies."

Effective July 1, 2006 the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) has lowered premiums an average of 22% across the State to encourage homeowners to buy coverage. I noticed at their site that I can now increase my Loss of Use to $15,000 from the previous maximum of $5,000 and I plan on increasing coverage of the contents to $25,000.

By utilizing the Estimated-Premium Calculator I found the increase in premium is not even twenty dollars. My policy is in effect May 20, 2006-2007 with the annual premium of $108, which has been paid in full.

Now is the time to obtain rates and increase current coverage for Earthquake Coverage to your dwelling, no matter what that may be. I hear news coverage all the time about how we in Los Angeles downtown region are due for a major Earthquake event.

real time shaking maps. This is also the site to report when you have experienced an Earthquake in California and Nevada. I have filled out several of these over the years - I find it calming to get on this site immediately after the shaking to see who else is feeling the activity. Make sure you have batteries for radios to check the AM stations and listen to callers discussing the intensity of the shaking and where those areas are in relation to you.

The news media here in Southern California quickly heads out to Cal Tech to get live reports on the Earthquake activity and interviews with Dr. Lucy Jones and Dr. Kate Hutton.

I felt my first Earthquake while staying at the Armed Forces YMCA in San Diego back in 1982. A few years later I felt one late at night in New Jersey. I remember the Whittier and Northridge earthquakes quite well. Many will recall watching the Oakland A's at the World Series in 1990 during the Earthquake. I was working at the Capitol Records building in the late 1980s and cancelled a Dental appointment the day of a shaker. I would not want to be sitting in a Dentist chair or on a toilet during any Earthquake movement.

For the most part an Earthquake is an interesting experience, depending on the intensity of the shaking and the length of time it continues on.

Cal Tech/USGS Earthquake Guide

Living with Earthquakes in Southern California

Earthquakes Hazards Program

Insurance Information Institute - Earthquakes: Risks and Insurance Issues.