South Carolina Earthquake Insurance
Find the right earthquake insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
South Carolina is not typically associated with earthquakes, especially not to the degree that the U.S. West Coast is. However, while the occasional earthquake in this state is typically small and insignificant, they can be a concern to area homeowners. Are you certain that you have adequate earthquake insurance to protect your home, business, or other property if a major earthquake brings widespread destruction?
Your existing South Carolina homeowners, auto, and business insurance policies may not cover damages caused by earthquakes. An independent insurance agent in our network can help you ensure that you are properly shielded from the financial losses that these disasters can bring. Member agents can review your existing coverage and provide you with a variety of South Carolina earthquake insurance quotes. Contact an agent near you for more information today.
Recent South Carolina Earthquakes
- A 2.8 magnitude quake was recorded in Summerville
- A 2.5 magnitude quake was recorded near Cheraw
- A 2.4 magnitude quake was recorded near Due West
Most earthquakes in South Carolina are low-level quakes that produce minimal damages. However, even a small quake can cause serious structural damage to your home. This is particularly true for older homes and brick homes. Be sure to protect your investment with a suitable South Carolina earthquake insurance policy.
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Why Are South Carolina Residents at Risk?
South Carolina is considered to be at moderate-to-high risk for earthquake activity. This state lies just outside the boundary of the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ), the most active earthquake zone in the Southeastern United States. Additionally, there are four known fault systems within the state. These include:
- The Ravenel-Adams fault system
- The Run-Hollywood fault system
- The Middleton Place-Summerville fault system
- The Bowman fault system
While earthquakes can be felt anywhere in this state, residents in the coastal plain have the highest risk of serious damage. The activity in the South Carolina seismic zone should not be discounted by area property holders. While chances are good that any earthquakes experienced by South Carolina residents will be mild, experts warn of the potential for a major quake that will bring expensive destruction throughout the state. It would be a wise decision to include a South Carolina earthquake insurance rider with your homeowners insurance policy.
South Carolina Earthquake Insurance Covers Your Property
You can obtain coverage for your valuable personal property through policy riders on the insurance coverage you already have.
- Homeowners insurance: Most policies exclude coverage for earthquake damage unless you purchase an additional endorsement, or "rider." If your policy does not offer the option to purchase earthquake insurance, you may need to consider another insurance provider.
- Renters and condo insurance: If you rent an apartment or own a condo, you do not need to worry about insuring the structure of your home. However, an earthquake can cause a great deal of damage to the personal property you have inside your unit. Your renters or condo insurance policies may exclude earthquake damage from coverage unless you purchase an additional endorsement.
- Business insurance: If you carry a business insurance policy, you should check to see if earthquake insurance is included in your coverage. Whether or not you own the building in which your business is housed, you stand to lose a lot if your equipment and business materials are damaged by this sort of catastrophe. Adding continuation of income insurance to your policy will allow your business to continue to take in revenue, even if it is forced to close temporarily after a major earthquake.
- Vehicle insurance: So long as you have included comprehensive coverage with your car or truck insurance policy, you will be compensated for any damages sustained by your vehicle in an earthquake. Comprehensive coverage is not required by law, so if your policy only meets the state minimum requirements, you will not be covered.
An agent in our network can help you review the policies you currently have to ensure that you are covered for earthquake damage. These agents may even be able to find ways to save you money on all your South Carolina insurance policies.
Is South Carolina Earthquake Insurance Expensive?
The cost of your policy will depend on several factors including the amount of coverage you purchase and the materials used to build your home. Homes made of wood, for example, are more flexible and are therefore able to withstand the tremors of an earthquake better than are homes made of brick. On average, you can expect the addition of earthquake insurance to your current policies to cost you around $25 a month.
Be aware, however, that while most earthquake insurance policies offer a lot in the way of coverage, they often come with a very high deductible. They are therefore not very useful at providing compensation for minor quake damages. These policies are designed specifically to protect you from suffering significant financial loss if your home is completely destroyed by a major earthquake.
Save on Earthquake Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Learn More about South Carolina Earthquake Insurance
Comparing earthquake insurance policies can be easy with the help of an agent in our network. As members of your community, these local agents understand the risks faced by homeowners in your neighborhood and can, therefore, provide you with sound guidance and advice. An agent in our network can review your current insurance policies and, if necessary, find you affordable earthquake insurance that meets your coverage and budgetary needs.
Contact an agent near you today to learn more and to start comparing South Carolina earthquake insurance quotes.