Earthquake insurance for Puget Sound homes and condos

Homeowners, condo and renters policies in Washington do not cover damage caused by earthquakes. Earthquake coverage is added as an endorsement to your home policy or bought as a separate policy. The Puget Sound region sits near the Cascadia Subduction Zone and several shallow faults, including the Seattle Fault and the South Whidbey Island Fault, so earthquake risk is real for Edmonds and the surrounding area.

How earthquake insurance works

• Percentage deductible: usually 5% to 25% of the dwelling limit, not a flat dollar amount.
• Dwelling, contents and loss of use can often be chosen separately.
• Condo owners can add earthquake loss assessment coverage for their share of the HOA’s earthquake deductible.
• Fire following an earthquake is generally covered by your standard policy.

Is it worth it?

It depends on your home’s construction, foundation, soil, age, how much equity you have and whether you could afford to rebuild without help. Homes that have been seismically retrofitted may qualify for lower rates. We will show you the cost at several deductible levels so you can decide with real numbers.