A seismic risk map of the United States shows that the country is riddled with areas that could experience an earthquake. Examining those maps more closely reveals that the East Coast is in a region that could experience an earthquake within the next 20 years. As part of our commitment to help protect families from the unexpected, Hunter Insurance would like to share the insurance implications of this naturally occurring phenomenon. Earthquakes are known to cause widespread damage to buildings, homes, roads, and landscapes. They are caused by tectonic shifts that occur underneath the ground, which can lead to violent tremors on the surface. More importantly, geologists claim that an earthquake can happen in every state, including Rhode Island. From an insurance perspective, damage caused by earthquakes is not covered by traditional homeowners insurance. Homeowners must purchase a separate endorsement or policy to be completely covered from earthquake damage. While the risk of an earthquake in Rhode Island is relatively low, families have to consider whether their home is prone to receiving extensive damage from earthquakes. For instance, homes made up of bricks could sustain significant damage. In any case, if an earthquake were to happen in the Ocean State,…

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