The Nisqually Earthquake

25 Years After Nisqually: Is Your Home Really Protected from the Next Big One?

Twenty-five years ago this week, Western Washington woke up to a jarring reminder of just how vulnerable the Pacific Northwest can be. The 6.8 magnitude Nisqually Earthquake rattled the Puget Sound region on February 28, 2001, triggering more than 9,500 insurance claims and over $315 million in payouts. A quarter-century later, the anniversary raises an uncomfortable question: if it happened again tomorrow, would you be covered?

The Gap Most People Don't Know About

Here's something that surprises many homeowners: standard homeowners and business insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. Earthquake coverage requires a separate policy or endorsement, and surveys suggest that only 10–20 percent of insured homeowners in Washington and Oregon have actually added it.

The same blind spot applies to flooding caused by tsunamis. Damage from outside water entering your home at ground level isn't covered under standard property policies either. That coverage is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or some private insurers, but you have to seek it out proactively.

"Earthquakes are inevitable in our region. Financial devastation doesn't have to be," said Kenton Brine, president of NW Insurance Council. "Reviewing your coverage now — before the ground starts shaking — gives families and business owners options. After a disaster, it's too late."

One piece of good news for drivers: if you carry Comprehensive Coverage on your auto policy, earthquake damage to your vehicle is covered.

The Risk Isn't Going Away

The Pacific Northwest carries the second-highest earthquake risk in the entire country. Seismologists warn that a magnitude 8 or 9 event along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a fault line stretching from Vancouver Island all the way down to Northern California, could happen at any time. The Nisqually quake was serious, but it wasn't the "big one." 

Earthquake insurance deductibles can be significant, often ranging from 20–25 percent of a structure's insured value, which gives some people pause. But coverage costs vary widely depending on where you live, the age of your home, and how it was built. The only way to know what it would actually cost you is to ask.

Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now

The 25th anniversary of Nisqually is as good a reason as any to do a quick preparedness check. Here's where to start:

Review your insurance. Call your agent and ask directly: do I have earthquake coverage? Flood coverage? 

Document your belongings. A home inventory — photos or video of your possessions stored securely in the cloud — can dramatically speed up the claims process after a disaster. Most people only wish they'd done this after it's too late.

Know your shutoffs. Find out how to turn off gas, electricity, and water at your home in case you're instructed to do so after a quake.

Have a plan. Prepare a family evacuation plan and emergency kit stocked with at least two weeks of water, food, medications, and essential supplies. Keep copies of your insurance policies in there too.

Know what to do when the ground moves. Drop, Cover, and Hold On. If you're driving, pull over safely, stay away from overpasses and power lines, and remain in your vehicle.

The Nisqually Earthquake was a wake-up call. Twenty-five years later, it's worth asking whether we've really heeded it. A few phone calls and some updated paperwork today could make an enormous difference the next time the ground decides to remind us who's in charge.

For more information about earthquake preparedness, visit your state's Emergency Management Division website or Ready.gov. For guidance on home, auto, and business insurance, visit NW Insurance Council.