Earthquake Damage

If you have experienced earthquake damage, take precautions by following the tips below, and call us at (800) 332-3226 to file a claim as soon as possible.

Tips for Immediate Action

Make personal safety your first priority. During an earthquake, buildings may collapse or slide off their foundations.
Listen to the local radio for up-to-date information.
Be prepared for aftershocks, which may cause additional damage and bring down weakened structures.
Stay out of your homeif it is severely damaged, until local authorities say it’s safe for you to return.
Check for damage to gas, electric, or sewage systems, as well as your chimney, when you are able to do safely.
Don’t use damaged systems until professionals have checked them. If gas is leaking, turn it off at the main shut-off valve, leave the building immediately, and call a professional for service.
Watch out for broken glass and sharp objects.
If you must drive, use caution. Look out for downed wires and debris, and remember bridges and roads may be damaged.

Report Your Claim

Call (800) 332-3226 to file a claim if you have damage from an earthquake and have purchased earthquake insurance from Safeco. Be ready to provide at least a general description of your damage. A representative will walk you through your claim, recording the details.

A claims professional will call you after you’ve reported your claim. Most of the time, it will be within 72 hours. If you have serious damage, we will make every effort to get to you first.

Make Temporary Repairs

Once it is safe to do so, it is your responsibility to take action to avoid further damage. If you can, clean up broken glass and cover broken windows with heavy-duty tarps or plywood to prevent additional water damage.

If you’re not sure it’s safe, professionals can help. You’ll usually find them listed under "contractors" in your phone directory. As part of documenting the damage, make sure to save receipts from any temporary fixes.

Review Your Insurance Policy

Earthquake insurance is not covered under Safeco’s standard home or business insurance policy. Homeowners may purchase a separate earthquake insurance policy, and business owners may add the coverage as an endorsement.

If you have purchased earthquake insurance, your policy typically covers the cost to repair common earthquake damage—including damage to roofing and walls, and most of your belongings or inventory. Some restrictions do apply. For example, your policy typically does not cover damage to fences, patios, landscaping, broken glassware, or art objects.

In addition, you may have a higher deductible for earthquake damage than you have on your primary property policy. Review what’s covered and the deductible you have, so you know what to expect when you file your claim.

If you can’t live in your home, Safeco will pay additional living expenses, as noted in your policy, while the damage is assessed and your home is being repaired or rebuilt. If, for some reason, your repairs take longer than the period of time covered by your policy, you may be eligible for additional assistance from federal emergency programs.

If damage to your business is extreme, review your property policy to determine your business income coverage. This typically covers the costs to replace lost profits, payroll, and operating expenses to help you get back in business. However, the coverage is optional, and not all business owners choose to buy it.

If you don’t have earthquake insurance, you may qualify for grants from FEMA (fema.gov). Business owners also may be eligible for low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration (sba.gov).

Document Your Damage

As soon as you can, make a thorough list of items that the earthquake damaged—this will help us processyour claim faster. Document the damage with photos, video, bills and receipts. In the meantime, don’t throw out damaged items—especially expensive items.

Your claims professional will let you know the specific information we need to process your claim.

Schedule Permanent Repairs

Safeco requires you to wait until your claims professional assesses your damage before you begin making permanent repairs. However, we encourage you to schedule permanent repairs as soon as possible because contractors can be difficult to schedule after an earthquake. Use a local, licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, and check references.

Understand Your Responsibility

Safeco will replace damaged items and materials with the same type and quality of materials you had before the earthquake. For example, if you had a fiberglass roof, we will pay to repair or replace damage with fiberglass materials—but we won’t pay to replace it with more expensive slate tile.

If damage is extensive, people sometimes decide to take the opportunity to upgrade their property with better or more expensive materials. Again, Safeco will only pay to replace materials of comparable kind and quality. If you want to pay the additional expense to upgrade, you’re welcome to do so out of your personal budget.

Any time you make improvements to your property, talk to your agent to make sure you have enough insurance, and to find out if you are eligible for discounts.

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