An earthquake is a sudden and rapid shaking of the earth caused when rock beneath the earth’s surface breaks and shifts. The United States experiences about 20,000 earthquakes every year. Earthquakes are unpredictable in nature and their damage can be even more unpredictable. 

This course examines the nature of earthquakes and the extent of the exposure in the United States, and the extent to which standard personal lines insurance policies cover—or fail to cover—earthquake losses. After reviewing the  earthquake-related exclusions and limitations in homeowners policies, the course examines the endorsements that can be used to add earthquake coverage. The course then proceeds to examine stand-alone earthquake policies and to consider the extent of earthquake coverage in other common personal lines policies.

This course was developed to meet the 1-hour continuing education study requirement on earthquake insurance for Oklahoma insurance licensees.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to

• identify the basic characteristics of the earthquake exposure and recognize the extent of the exposure within the United States
• recognize the effect of various earthquake-related exclusions and limitation in homeowners policies and other personal lines policies
• identify homeowners endorsements that can be used to provide earthquake coverage and recognize the effect of earthquake deductibles, limits, and other relevant coverage provisions found in these endorsements
• recognize the extent to which other types of common personal lines policies cover or exclude earthquake losses
• identify the key characteristics of stand-alone earthquake policies and recognize how these policies can be used to provide earthquake coverage.