Disaster Safety Blog

Insured damage estimates emerging from Japan's disaster

Property damage from Japan's deadly earthquake and tsunami Friday could top $34 billion, according to initial estimates from AIR Worldwide. It was the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan since records began in the 19th century, and the fifth largest quake anywhere in the world in 110 years.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, some 1,200 buildings were destroyed. AIR has estimated the insured property losses at between $14.6 billion and $34 billion.

Comparisons are being drawn between Friday's quake and the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the Japanese city of Kobe in January 1995. Some 6,500 people died in that disaster, which caused $122 billion in property damage.

The risk of earthquake in the United States is high in many regions. Find solutions to help protect your property with help from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety at www.DisasterSafety.org/earthquake.

Japan's building codes earn praise post-quake

From seawalls that line stretches of Japan’s coastline, to skyscrapers that sway to absorb earthquakes, to building codes that are among the world’s most rigorous, no country may be better prepared to withstand earthquakes than Japan, The New York Times reports.

Had any other populous country suffered the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan on Friday, tens of thousands of people might already be counted among the dead. So far, Japan’s death toll is in the hundreds, although it is certain to rise.

Over the years, Japan has spent billions of dollars developing the most advanced technology against earthquakes and tsunamis. The Japanese, who regularly experience smaller earthquakes and have lived through major ones, know how to react to quakes and tsunamis because of regular drills — unlike Southeast Asians, many of whom died in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami because they lingered near the coast.

Communities along Japan’s coastline, especially in areas that have been hit by tsunamis in the past, tend to be the best prepared. Local authorities can usually contact residents directly through warning systems set up in each home; footpaths and other escape routes leading to higher ground tend to be clearly marked.

Find out how the building codes in your state stack up at DisasterSafety.org.

Tsunami waves affect Santa Cruz harbor; one person missing

A tsunami from the devastating Japan earthquake hit the coast of California on Friday morning, causing significant damage in Crescent City, Santa Cruz and other parts of Northern California. There were no reports of major damage or flooding in Southern California.

Crescent City, site of a deadly tsunami four decades ago, appears to be particularly hard hit.

One person is missing in the Klamath River and one of the docks and several boats at the Santa Cruz harbor were destroyed today as tsunami waves generated from a powerful earthquake in Japan hit Northern California and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people from the coast, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who was swept out to sea by powerful waves, according to news reports. Officials say the man was taking photos of the tsunami with two friends near the mouth of the Klamath River in Del Norte County.

At 11:15 a.m., a large surge came through the Santa Cruz harbor and sent dozens of boats, some as big as 40-feet long, turning onto their sides and slamming into other boats that were tied up at nearby slips.

Several boats sank and people in the crowd gasped loudly and yelled as the boats' masts hit the water. There were also reports of significant damage in the harbor in Crescent City, where 35 boats were crushed. The majority of the damage in Santa Cruz has been centralized at one of the docks known as the U dock, which was destroyed in spectacular fashion, according to news report.

FEMA urges residents to heed evacation orders if issued

FEMA is closely monitoring the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan early this morning, according to a blog post from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

"Through our regional offices in the West Coast and in the pacific area, we are in close contact and coordination with state and local officials and stand ready to support them in any way needed.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy," Fugate wrote.

Tsunami warnings and watches have been issued for the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, as well as portions of coastal areas in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.

Our immediate priority is the safety of the people and communities in the affected areas.  We remind everyone who lives in the region to monitor their local news for instructions from their state and local officials and if told to evacuate - evacuate.

FEMA administrator Craig Fugate says it's critical West Coast residents heed evacuation orders before tsunami waves hit.

These potentially damaging waves are the result of a massive earthquake that hit Japan last night.

Fugate says some communities along the California coast are advising people to evacuate because it's difficult to know how high the tsunami waves might be when they actually hit.

Crescent City in northern California expects to receive waves between 6 to 7 feet high.

Southern California beaches have been evacuated ahead of a tsunami that's expected to hit the West Coast within an hour.

Surfers and swimmers are being told to get out of the water and stay off the beach due to potentially hazardous currents.

The first effects of the tsunami are expected to be felt between 8:30 and 8:45 Pacific time. The City of Los Angeles has closed its beaches.

In Orange County, Newport Elementary School in Newport Beach has been closed today because of its close proximity to the coastline. Boaters have been told to leave their boats or sail three miles out from the shore for safety.

For more information, visit FEMA's blog.

Earthquake and tsunami warning serve as reminders of risk

The devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami that have hit Japan are a grim reminder that the U.S. mainland is also susceptible to quakes, according to the Insurance Information Network of California. Regions across the Pacific Rim, including California, remain on tsunami watch this morning.

“The potential cost of earthquakes is growing because of development in seismically active areas and the vulnerability of older buildings which may not have been built or upgraded to current building codes”
.Despite the state’s exposure to seismic risk, few Californians purchase earthquake insurance. Less than 12 percent of the state’s homeowners are estimated to have purchased quake policies, according to IINC.

“The potential cost of earthquakes is growing because of development in seismically active areas and the vulnerability of older buildings which may not have been built or upgraded to current building codes,” said IINC Executive Director Candysse Miller.

Earthquakes are not covered under standard U.S. homeowners or business insurance policies. Earthquake insurance is a supplemental policy to your home or business insurance. In California, homeowners can also secure coverage from the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), a privately funded, publicly managed organization.

Flood damage from a tsunami also would typically be covered under a flood insurance policy rather than a standard homeowner insurance policy. Flood policies are available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and some private insurance companies, and can generally be purchased from the same agent or broker who provides your homeowners or renters insurance.

Since 1900, earthquakes have occurred in 39 states and have caused damage in all 50. Just last week, a series of minor quakes rocked the state of Arkansas. There has not been a major quake on the U.S. mainland, however, since the 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake in 1994.

The Northridge quake and the 1989 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta quake were the two most costly earthquakes in U.S. history, as defined by insured losses. In 2008 dollars, Northridge caused an estimated $19 billion to $29 billion in insured losses while the Loma Prieta quake resulted in insured losses totaling a little over $12 billion.

For more information, please visit www.iinc.org. IINC is also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/iinc and on Facebook at http://companies.to/iinc.

Things to know before you go

Whether you're going on vacation for spring break, travel extensively for business or pleasure, have rental property that is unoccupied, or share time between two homes, there are things you can and should do before closing up your house for any real length of time, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

Adjust Thermostat - One of the easiest things to do, but something easily forgotten, is adjusting the thermostat.

    * In colder climates, don't turn the thermostat off. Instead, lower it to a temperature that's warm enough to keep pipes from freezing but low enough that you are not spending money to heat an empty home. (No lower than 55 degrees.)
    * In warmer climates, high temperatures and humidity can damage furniture or other home contents. In this case, set your air conditioner to 85 degrees.

Protect Plumbing - Both plastic (PVC) and copper pipes can burst. Pipes, water heaters and other appliances can leak, or in freezing weather, pipes can freeze and burst, which can cause major damage in a home left unattended.

    * If you are leaving for an extended period of time, the best protection is to have the water shut off and the water lines drained.
          o Seek the advice of a professional plumber, who can shut off the valve at the water meter and send water outdoors and away from the house or into a basement drain. Once this has been done, the plumber should flush all toilets and drain the showerhead pipe.
          o Shut off the gas to the water heater (or the gas company can do this for you), or turn the temperature control to a "vacation" setting. If your house has a water softener, shut off its supply line.
    * If you choose to leave the water service turned on or will be away only a short while:
          o Make sure all pipes are insulated, especially in a garage or basement next to an outside wall or in crawl spaces and the attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing.
          o Heat tape can also be used to wrap pipes. Wrap the tape or cables around water pipes, plug in the cord and the heating element will warm the pipes to prevent freezing. Closely follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions.
          o Turn off the water supply to individual fixtures like your washing machine, icemaker, toilets and sinks.
            Flooding often occurs when hoses are worn or ruptured, or there is a leak at the connection.
          o Don't leave appliances (dishwasher, washing machine or dryer) running when you leave, and check to make sure toilets aren't running. As an extra precaution, unplug your toaster, coffee maker, microwave oven, computer and television.
          o Make sure the sump pump is working, especially in late winter or early spring when melting snow or heavy rain increases the risk of basement flooding.

Plan for High Wind - If you're going to be away during a season that brings high wind, protect your property:

          o Trim dead limbs from trees and shrubbery and store outdoor furniture and other objects that could become damaging missiles if picked up by high wind.
          o Close and lock all doors, windows, skylights and vents to keep out wind and wind-driven rain.

Make Your House or Business Look Occupied - An empty, unsecured property can be a tempting target for thieves and vandals. 

    * Put interior and exterior lights on timers and/or motion sensors. Set the timers on staggered hours to turn lights on and off at different times.
    * Make sure tapered deadbolt locks all installed and in use on entry doors. The taper makes it almost impossible to use a wrench or other tool to twist the lock open.
    * Suspend mail service and newspaper delivery.
    * Install a monitored security system. (Insurers often provide discounts for devices that make a home safer, so consider the financial benefit.)
    * Inform the local police department that your house will be empty.

Wildfire season heats up in New Mexico

A wildfire in New Mexico is still threatening properties today, despite being partially contained by firefighters Wednesday.

What is being called the Quail Ridge Fire is burning near Silver City. The blaze has consumed nearly 1,800 acres and destroyed 13 houses and 47 other buildings, according to news reports. Officials say up to 100 structures within the burn area and another 100 buildings within a quarter-mile of the fire perimeter are still considered threatened.

 Find solutions to protect your New Mexico home, business or farm from wildfire at www.DisasterSafety.org/wildfire.

Property damage reported in three states after storms

Violent weather caused property damage in three states where tornadoes and severe thunderstorms struck Wednesday. The storm system that spawned the severe weather moved into Florida and onto the East Coast this morning.

One of the hardest hit areas on Wednesday was the metro of New Orleans, La., which was the site of three tornadoes and heavy rain. Other tornadoes were reported Biloxi, Miss., and Baldwin and Mobile counties in Alabama. Damage assessments are underway.

Find solutions for reducing the risk of wind damage by strengthening roof to wall connections at DisasterSafety.org.

Earthquake destroys more than 500 properties, damages many more

At least 22 people were killed and hundreds injured today when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Yunnan province near the border with Myanmar, according to news reports.

The earthquake destroyed at least 580 houses and damaged countless others at Yingjiang.

The earthquake is the largest of more than 1,200 minor tremors over the last two months in the region, seismologists told reporters. It was followed by three aftershocks, measuring up to 4.7 magnitude within 10 minutes of the first tremor.

Eight earthquakes registering higher than 5 magnitude struck the area between 1991 and 2008, according to China's Earthquake Administration.

This quake and the recent one in New Zealand remind us that these events happen without warning. If you live or work in an earthquake-prone area, take steps now to secure your property against damage. They are things you can do to reduce the risk of severe damage and injury. Find out more at www.DisasterSafety.org/earthquake. Download a free copy of the new IBHS Guide Earthquake Risks around the U.S. - How to Protect Your Property.

 

Wild weather puts properties at increased risk of damage

Weather across the U.S. is a case of extremes right now and threats to properties remain high. Take control of your risk, regardless of what threats you may be facing.

In the west and parts of the south and east, including Florida and Texas, drought conditions and windy weather have elevated the threat of wildfires. While in parts of the Midwest and southeast, residents are dealing with swollen rivers and flooded communities. Communities along the east coast are once again digging out from a snowstorm. Another storm is expected to hit the east coast later this week.

Find resources to protect your property from flooding, freezing weather, wildfire and other natural hazards at DisasterSafety.org, where you can enter your ZIP Code and get a personalized list of risks that face the areas where you live and work.