Tag: financial-preparedness

New Tools to Raise Awareness About Earthquake Risk & Preparedness

Business owner hanging an "open" sign the door of a shop. Insure Against Earthquakes logo and "Standard business insurance won't cover earthquake losses. Protect your business." Three text bubbles: "Make a business continuity plan." "Ask your agent how to add earthquake coverage." "Consider buying business interruption insurance."

CREW is pleased to share three new outreach & education tools to help you raise awareness about earthquakes & preparedness. The new materials are available in English and Spanish:

First — Two new social media graphics that encourage preparedness: one features small business preparedness; the other home preparedness.

House with cracked and fallen plaster and masonry. "I Own a House in Earthquake Country. What kind of damage could an earthquake do? And how expensive will it be to repair?"

Second — A brochure (print and digital versions) about common kinds of earthquake damage to homes, likely costs, and retrofit options.

Third — A print-ready “Recovery Plan” poster and postcard featuring QR-codes that lead to further information and resources. The poster/postcard can be displayed or distributed at preparedness fairs and other in-person events. (To request a customized set with your agency’s logo and a QR code leading to your preparedness webpage, email us at IAEQproject@crew.org.)

Two people having a conversation while seated at a table. Background: stylized sketch of a house in an earthquake. Captions: What's Your Recovery Plan? Actions you take today can help you get back on your feet after an earthquake.

These and other outreach materials can be found in the Featured Outreach Products section of CREW’s Insure Against Earthquakes educators’ site. The site and the new tools were produced with funding from FEMA through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.

June 28 is National Insurance Awareness Day — This is a good opportunity to use the graphics to launch a social media message encouraging people to ask an agent about earthquake insurance and consider ways to mitigate.

New! Results of CREW’s Survey of Insurance Agents in the Western U.S.

Person seated at a desk and viewing an open laptop.

CREW surveyed insurance agents who sell homeowners and renters policies in the western United States to learn about their experiences and opportunities for discussing earthquake risk and earthquake insurance with consumers. More than 800 agents responded!

View CREW’s publication of the survey results.

The survey offers insight into a range of topics, including:

  • What opportunities agents have to talk with consumers about earthquake risk and insurance.
  • How common it is for consumers to ask about earthquake insurance.
  • How familiar agents are with the earthquake risk in the areas where they sell policies.
  • How willing agents are to educate consumers about earthquake risk and earthquake insurance.
  • What information and resources agents need in order to educate consumers about their risk and options.

The results of this inquiry can assist emergency managers and earthquake preparedness professionals both to understand the role of insurance agents in educating the public, and to design targeted and effective risk-communication tools and preparedness resources and messaging.