Flood & Earthquake Insurance

Personal Insurance

The two disasters your homeowners policy excludes.

Flood and earthquake are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. Not partially, not with a higher deductible. They are excluded, and both are real risks in the Willamette Valley.

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The Basics

Oregon sits on a fault line and in a floodplain.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone runs off the Oregon coast, and seismologists have written extensively about the scale of damage a major event would cause inland. Very few Oregon homeowners carry earthquake coverage, largely because they assume it is included.

Flooding is more routine. Winter rain, the Pudding River and Silver Creek, and saturated ground produce localized flooding that has nothing to do with whether you sit in a mapped flood zone. Most flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.

Both excluded from every standard homeowners policy
Flood written through the NFIP or private carriers
Earthquake written as a separate policy or endorsement
Flood policies carry a waiting period before coverage starts

Water Damage, Sorted

• Burst pipe: homeowners policy
• Roof leak from a storm: homeowners policy
• Sewer or drain backup: endorsement
• Water rising from outside: flood policy

What’s Covered

Flood and earthquake coverage

Flood: Building

The structure, foundation, electrical, plumbing and permanently installed systems.

Flood: Contents

Belongings inside, bought as a separate limit from building coverage.

Earthquake: Dwelling

Structural damage from shaking, typically with a percentage deductible.

Earthquake: Contents

Belongings damaged when they come off walls and shelves.

Loss of Use

Somewhere to live while the home is repaired, on most earthquake policies.

Debris Removal

Clearing the site before rebuilding can begin, which is a real cost after either event.

Common Questions

Flood & Earthquake FAQs

I’m not in a flood zone. Do I need flood insurance?

A significant share of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones, and premiums outside those zones are correspondingly lower. Being off the map reduces the risk; it does not remove it.

Is there a waiting period?

Flood policies generally have a waiting period before coverage takes effect, so buying as a storm approaches does not work. Buy it during a dry stretch when nobody is thinking about it.

Why is the earthquake deductible so high?

Earthquake deductibles are usually a percentage of your dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount, which makes them large. The policy is built for a catastrophic loss, not cosmetic cracking.

Is earthquake coverage worth it in Oregon?

That depends on your home’s age, construction and whether it is bolted to the foundation, along with your tolerance for the risk. We can price it so you are deciding with a real number rather than a guess.

Find out what these actually cost.

Most people have never priced either one. It takes one conversation.

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