(tn.gov/Peg Broadcasting News)
February is designated as Central U.S. Earthquake Awareness Month. To raise awareness of the importance of earthquake preparedness, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) joins the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to remind consumers that earthquake insurance can lower consumers’ financial burden in the event of an earthquake, great or small. Earthquakes frequently occur in Tennessee because the Volunteer State has two seismic zones — the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in the west and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone in the east. While most quakes that occur in Tennessee are small, scientists estimate that there is a 25-40% probability of a 6.0 or greater magnitude earthquake occurring in the central U.S. within a 50-year window. Traditional homeowners and business insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. An earthquake insurance policy from a licensed insurance producer can decrease financial losses in the aftermath of an earthquake.