I often get asked about earthquakes, now that I live in California. And I certainly have friends and family members tell me they would never live in California because of the earthquakes. I think it's kinda silly, but it's their reality and that's fine.

I have noticed one very minor tremor since I have been here, but I suspect there have been others. I have no other frame of reference, although my wife was in San Francisco on business during the big earthquake there in 1989 (she swore we would NEVER live in California - hah, I convinced her after all) so I have her experience in my thoughts.  

People I have talked to out here don't seem to give it much thought. Maybe those who have lost their homes are more leery, and understandably so.

I understand the concern about earthquakes. But we have natural disasters all over the country - hurricanes in Florida, Nor'easters in New England, tornadoes in the Midwest, and who can count how many areas have had flooding problems due to massive rain this year?  I know part of the issue is predictability (or lack of), but the fear of these events seems to be more fiction that fact.

There are thousands of earthquakes/tremors/temblors all over the world on a regular basis, and they vary immensely in intensity. Not wanting to digress into a geological discussion here, but if you are interested, here is more information on what earthquakes are, etc. Want to know about tremors after they occur here in California or nearby Nevada (where they are centered, magnitude, etc.) - check out this site.

Because of the possibility of earthquake related tsunamis in low-lying coastal areas (e.g., Cardiff), some portions of Southern California are designated risk areas and signs have been erected to inform residents and visitors; some towns, including Carlsbad, have developed various programs to prepare for these potential disasters.

But it's a normal concern and buyers are right to inquire about earthquakes. How prevalent are they? What can I expect in the area I want to live in? Is earthquake insurance needed and/or useful? What sort of earthquake preparedness is realistic?

Here in California we have a requirement to disclose information about natural hazards, and these reports (one of the biggest companies providing such information is Property ID) provide disclosures such as:

• whether or not a home is in an earthquake fault zone
• whether a property is near a zone of fault activity
• is the home in a wildland fire are
• is the home is a flood hazard zone
• whether a property is in an officially designated area of slide-prone formations (landslides)
• is the home located within 1 miles of a formerly known military ordnance site

The reports from Property IDalso provide a Homeowner's Guide to earthquake safety, as well as a guide to what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Good stuff to know, just in case. WeatherWizKids is a good site for information on how to prepare for and deal with an earthquake, among other natural hazards such as tornadoes.

Earthquake insurance is expensive, more than homeowner's insurance as far as I know, and you would do well to thoroughly investigate the coverage you might have to pay for before making a decision. It is optional, although it is possible your lender MAY require it depending on where you live.

I will admit - I don't think about them very often, even though earthquakes are common here and there continue to be predictions about "the big one." It certainly pays to become knowledgeable about what to expect and how to prepare and protect yourself and your family. Being an informed consumer if you are considering living in this part of the country is simply good due diligence.

If I can provide more information or answer any questions, please contact me/TEXT ME at 760-840-1360 or email me at jdowler@remax.net.