If you live in Seattle, you've probably heard someone mention "the Big One." It's not fear-mongering—it's geology. Seattle sits in one of the most seismically active regions in the United States, sandwiched between the Cascadia Subduction Zone offshore and the Seattle Fault running directly beneath the city. Here's the reality: Seattle has an 86% chance of experiencing a damaging earthquake in the next 50 years. That's not a question of if, but when. And here's the kicker that surprises most Seattle homeowners: your standard homeowners insurance won't cover a single dollar of earthquake damage.
Whether earthquake insurance makes sense for you depends on several factors: where you live, what your home is made of, and honestly, how much financial risk you can stomach. Let's break down what you need to know.
Understanding Seattle's Earthquake Risk
Seattle faces earthquake threats from two main sources. The Cascadia Subduction Zone, located about 70 miles offshore, is a 600-mile-long fault capable of producing magnitude 9.0+ earthquakes. The last time it ruptured was in 1700, and scientists estimate a 37-43% chance of a major quake (magnitude 8.0 or higher) hitting within the next 50 years. When the Big One strikes, it could shake Seattle for four to six minutes—an eternity when the ground is rolling beneath you.
Closer to home, the Seattle Fault runs directly under the city. While these earthquakes tend to be smaller in magnitude, they're much closer to the surface and can cause intense, localized damage. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake, a magnitude 6.8 event, caused over $2 billion in damage across the region and serves as a reminder that even moderate earthquakes can be devastating.
About 15% of Seattle sits on soil prone to ground failure during earthquakes—areas that can experience liquefaction, where solid ground temporarily behaves like liquid. Neighborhoods built on fill, particularly parts of SoDo, Georgetown, and areas near Elliott Bay, face heightened risk.
The Unreinforced Masonry Problem
Here's something that should concern you if you live or work in an older Seattle building: the city has over 1,100 unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. These structures—mostly built before 1940—are essentially brick boxes with walls that aren't properly anchored to floors or roofs. During an earthquake, these walls can collapse outward like dominos, crushing anything in their path.
Over 22,000 people live or work in these vulnerable buildings every day. The scary part? Only about 20% of Seattle's URMs have received the necessary seismic upgrades. While the city adopted new building codes in 2024 to eventually require retrofits, improvements are currently voluntary unless you're making major renovations. If you own or rent in a URM building, earthquake insurance becomes even more critical—and potentially more expensive.
You can check whether your building is on the URM list through Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspections. If it is, ask your landlord or building owner about retrofit plans. The answer might influence both your insurance decisions and whether you want to keep living there.
What Earthquake Insurance Actually Covers
Earthquake insurance covers damage to your home's structure and your personal belongings caused by seismic activity. This includes your foundation, walls, roof, built-in appliances, and systems like plumbing and electrical. It also covers your furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal property inside your home.
Most policies also provide additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable after an earthquake. Given that emergency officials recommend Seattle residents be prepared for at least two weeks of self-sufficiency following a major Cascadia event—and potentially much longer—this coverage could prove invaluable. If you need to stay in a hotel or rent temporary housing while repairs happen, earthquake insurance helps cover those costs.
However, earthquake insurance typically doesn't cover everything. Most policies exclude damage from fires, floods, or tsunamis—even if triggered by an earthquake. You'll need separate policies for those perils. Landscaping, pools, fences, and detached structures may have limited coverage or require additional endorsements.
The Real Cost: Premiums and Deductibles
A 2024 survey of major carriers in Washington found annual premiums ranging from $750 to $1,625 for a home insured at $500,000. That breaks down to about $1.50 to $3.25 per $1,000 of coverage. Brick homes typically cost about twice as much to insure as wood-frame homes—roughly $3 per $1,000 in value for brick versus $1.50 for wood.
But here's where it gets tricky: the deductible. Unlike your homeowners insurance with its $1,000 or $2,500 deductible, earthquake insurance deductibles are percentage-based, typically ranging from 10% to 25% of your dwelling coverage. That means if your home is insured for $500,000 with a 15% deductible, you're paying the first $75,000 of damage out of pocket. Yes, you read that correctly—seventy-five thousand dollars.
This is why earthquake insurance functions more like catastrophic coverage than comprehensive protection. It's designed to prevent total financial ruin from a worst-case scenario, not to cover every crack in your drywall after a minor tremor. For many homeowners, it makes sense to choose the highest deductible you can afford to keep premiums manageable.
Should You Buy Earthquake Insurance?
The decision ultimately comes down to your financial situation and risk tolerance. If you're carrying a mortgage, your lender might require earthquake insurance depending on your home's location and construction type. Even if it's not required, consider whether you could afford to rebuild or make major repairs if a significant earthquake struck. Could you cover a $75,000 deductible plus any damage beyond your policy limits? Could you afford to pay your mortgage on an uninhabitable house while simultaneously paying rent elsewhere?
Earthquake insurance makes the most sense for homeowners in high-risk areas, those living in older unreinforced masonry buildings, and anyone who couldn't financially recover from major earthquake damage. It's less essential if you live in a newer wood-frame home built to current seismic codes, have substantial emergency savings, or own your home outright and could absorb the loss.
Renters shouldn't ignore earthquake insurance either. While your landlord's policy covers the building, it won't replace your belongings or cover your temporary housing if the building becomes uninhabitable. Earthquake coverage for renters is significantly cheaper than for homeowners—often just a few hundred dollars annually.
Getting Started with Coverage
Start by contacting your current homeowners or renters insurance provider. Many offer earthquake coverage as an endorsement or separate policy. You can also purchase standalone earthquake insurance from specialty carriers if your current insurer doesn't offer it.
When comparing quotes, look beyond the premium. Compare deductible percentages, coverage limits, exclusions, and whether the policy covers additional living expenses. Ask whether your insurer uses replacement cost or actual cash value—replacement cost is better but more expensive. Find out if there are any waiting periods before coverage begins; some policies won't cover earthquakes that occur within the first 30 days.
Consider retrofitting your home to reduce earthquake damage and potentially lower your premiums. Bolting your home to its foundation, reinforcing cripple walls, and securing your water heater can make a real difference. Some insurers offer discounts for homes with seismic retrofits, and these improvements protect your home whether you have insurance or not. Given Seattle's 86% chance of a damaging earthquake in the next 50 years, the question isn't whether to prepare—it's how.
