A string of earthquakes is rocking the SC Midlands. Is your home protected? [The State (Columbia, S.C.)]

Jan. 28—A recent string of tremors in the Midlands has led some residents to take additional precautions to protect their homes, including purchasing special earthquake insurance.

Since Dec. 27, 17 minor earthquakes have been recorded in the Columbia area. In that time, the number of customers inquiring about earthquake coverage has "picked up unbelievably," said Gary Patterson, a State Farm insurance agent based in Lugoff.

Homeowners insurance does not typically cover damages caused by earthquakes, but earthquake coverage can be added on to an existing policy.

Just like with any insurance policy, the cost differs from home to home based on factors such as size, price and type of construction.

"Coverage ranges anywhere between 5 and 15% of one's deductible," Patterson said.

According to the South Carolina Department of Emergency Management, there are several fault lines running through the state that put South Carolina at a "moderate to high risk" for earthquakes. Still, few South Carolinians are insured for earthquake damage.

"Almost $2 billion have been written in this state for homeowners coverage," said John Farmer, director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance. "If you contrast that to earthquake coverage, it's a total of just $48.2 million. That's a tremendous difference."

Though the quakes that have been popping up recently have not caused any damage, in 1886, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Charleston, destroying whole areas of the city and killing more than 100 people.

"We should take these as gentle reminders that we need to reassess our insurance individually and make an informed economic decision," Farmer said.

His agency recently compiled a guide on earthquake coverage. Farmer said one of the key recommendations is for homeowners to catalog their belongings so that if a catastrophic event like an earthquake does happen, they have a thorough record of what has been lost.

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