California may be the state you think of first for earthquakes, but did you know the Mississippi River in the New Madrid region, as well as the southern Appalachians, New England and Alaska are also rated “High” or “Very High” for earthquake risk? Find out the risk level for the state in which you live.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH CONSIDERABLE RISK, PREPARATION IS KEY!
After an earthquake, would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, and you could get help in hours; however it may take days. Indeed, your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes.
To help you know what steps to take before, during and after an earthquake, we hope you will review the attached links from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) websites.
In addition to FEMA’s recommended disaster supplies, IBHS recommends packing these other items:
- A wrench and other basic tools
- Work gloves
- Portable lanterns
- Extra car and house keys
- Important documents, including insurance policies.
- Cell phone batteries and a charger.
Above all, you and your family members should be familiar with your community’s disaster preparedness plans and have an Established Family Plan. It is also important to learn about the plans of your workplace, children’s schools or day care centers.
ARE THERE THINGS I CAN DO TO PREPARE MY HOME?
Yes, you can do a lot simply by securing appliances, furniture and keepsakes. Here are some interior nonstructural projects that can help secure household items.
Work involving your home's structure, however, tends to be quite complex and generally requires the expertise of a registered design professional, such as an architect or engineer or a licensed building contractor. Here are two helpful resources to review with your architect or builder. You may also want to check with your local building officials to be sure what you're doing complies with local building codes.
FEMA's Homebuilders' Guide
FEMA's Homeowner's Safety Guide
IBHS has also developed disaster-resistant construction standards through its Fortified...for safer living® program. Its standards call for better protection in more places than is required by most building codes, so when earthquakes rumble, the added connections transfer the forces on the home's walls and roof to the foundation, giving it a better chance for survival. To find out more about the program, visit the IBHS' Fortified Home webpage.
ANPAC clients can receive discounts on their homeowners’ premiums for building to the program’s standards. If you’ve built a Fortified home, and you’d like to find out if you’re eligible for a discount, use our Agent Locator to contact your local American National agent.
IF AN EARTHQUAKE STARTS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
WHAT TO DO AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
Fortunately, as these resources indicate, there are several measures we can take to protect ourselves and our property. Equally important is reviewing your insurance policies. Coverage that made sense when you established your original policies often needs to be adjusted over time, so if you haven't already, now is a good time to schedule an annual review with your insurance agent!
A professional inspection of your insurance policies can save you time, money and assure you have the right coverages to fit you needs! Depending on your residence, for instance, you may want to learn about American National’s earthquake endorsement. Indeed, your American National Professional Insurance Review is an excellent opportunity for you to ask questions about your current policy, and perhaps learn about coverage, features, or discounts you may be eligible to receive.
To schedule your Professional Insurance Review, click here to find an American National agent in your area by name, area code, or city/state.
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*Links to or from a third-party site, such as FEMA and IBHS, do not constitute sponsorship, endorsement, or approval by ANPAC® of the content, policies, or practices of such sites. It is provided and intended solely for your convenience, and is not maintained by or under the control of ANPAC®. You should check the privacy policies of any site you visit.
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