All Shook Up: Check Your Homeowners Insurance
One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to sit and watch the History Channel. A few weeks ago, I was watching a program about the 8+ magnitude New Madrid earthquake that rocked the Midwest in 1811. Tremors were felt right here in Des Moines, IA (520 miles away). This massive quake changed the landscape of the Midwest, permanently changing the course of the Mississippi River, and temporarily causing it to flow backward.
This morning, 197 years later, a smaller 5.2 magnitude earthquake again rocked the ground. Fortunately, so far, there are no reports of damage or injuries. However, my girlfriend's sister, who lives in Martinsville, Indiana (just south of Indianapolis) said she thought her house was going to fall down. 
Here in Des Moines, WHO radio morning co-host, Bonnie Lucas, was sitting in her office and felt her chair move, grabbed her desk, and heard the ceiling panels start to shake. At first, she thought it was Van Harden working on another invention (like cheese-crust pizza). Then she read the newswire and realized it was just an earthquake.
This morning's quake likely didn't change the course of the Mississippi but, maybe you should check the fine print of your homeowners insurance to see if it covers earthquake damage. This is NOT included in most homeowners insurance policies. It is an available, affordable endorsement that can be added to most policies. But, especially here in the Midwest, with the last major earthquake happening nearly 200 years ago, it probably wasn't even something you asked about when you took out your coverage. The risk is nominal but so is the premium. On the other hand, in the even of an actual loss, it could be financially devastating.
