150th Anniversary of "The Big One" Should Shake Californians into Readiness Effort.

Financial Plan a Critical Element as Families & Businesses "Dare to Prepare"

LOS ANGELES -- With 150 years gone since Southern California's last "Big One," the region must ready its homes and businesses for the next, inevitable seismic jolt.

The Insurance Information Network of California joined a coalition of earthquake scientists, engineers, first responders, and civic leaders today in kicking off the "Dare to Prepare" seismic safety public awareness campaign.

"The Insurance Information Network of California is proud to be a partner in the Earthquake Country Alliance and its efforts to challenge Southern Californians to "Dare to Prepare" for earthquakes," said IINC Executive Director Candysse Miller.

Only an estimated 12 percent of California homeowners have purchased earthquake insurance policies, potentially leaving millions of Californians financially unprotected in the event of a catastrophic quake.

Polling commissioned by IINC in partnership with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company last year found that 31 percent of California homeowners believe they have earthquake insurance coverage. This may indicate confusion over homeowner insurance coverage, Miller said.

"Earthquake damage is not covered under a standard homeowner insurance policy, and must be purchased separately," Miller said. "The Dare to Prepare campaign serves as an outstanding reminder to homeowners to create a household financial recovery plan."

The 2006 IINC poll also found that less than half of Californians consider themselves prepared for an earthquake.

Today's event commemorated the Fort Tejon earthquake, the largest earthquake in southern California's history, a 7.9 magnitude temblor along the San Andreas fault. The quake killed only 2 people because the region had so few inhabitants. Today, Southern California is home to close to 21 million people.

For more information on the Dare to Prepare campaign, please visit www.daretoprepare.org.

IINC is non-profit, non-lobbying insurance communications association dedicated to helping the public understand insurance and risk management issues. For more information on this and other related subjects, visit www.iinc.org.