MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Mudslide victims likely not covered by insurance

Mar 24, 2014, 1:12 PM | Updated: 4:52 pm

Things could get even worse for property owners who lost everything in the deadly mudslide that ravaged a small Snohomish County community, because many likely don’t have insurance coverage.

“Standard home and business policies specifically exclude damage caused by earth movement such as landslides, earthquakes, mud flows, things of that nature,” says Karl Newman, President of the NW Insurance Council.

Sadly, many people assume they are covered for catastrophe and don’t learn they’re not covered until after the fact, Newman says.

Devastating mud and landslides can happen anywhere in the Northwest, from a rural area like the one hit Saturday by the massive slide that killed at least 14 people to urban areas around Seattle.

The investment is well worth it, Newman says. Depending on risk factors such as steepness of your property or proximity to a cliff, the homeowner with a $300,000 house can expect to pay $1,000 or more per year for coverage.

“Your home is arguably your most valuable asset for most of us. And when you compare a homeowners policy, you’re still talking about less than the average person pays for full coverage on a two-person auto policy,” Newman says.

Some who avoid buying additional insurance assume they can rely on federal disaster aid to help cover costs of rebuilding. But Newman warns that aid often comes as a low-interest loan, meaning property owners are still ultimately on the hook for the cost of the repairs along with continuing to have to pay an existing mortgage.

The NW Insurance Council has prepared a list of tips to help prepare for a landslide or other natural disasters. It includes maintaining a complete inventory of all your possessions, evaluating risk with an independent geologist or other expert, and learning and recognizing early landslide warning signs such as: doors or windows that stick or jam, new cracks in plaster, tile, bricks or foundations, broken underground utility lines and bulging ground at the base of a slope.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

7 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

9 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

10 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

10 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

11 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

14 hours ago

Mudslide victims likely not covered by insurance