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As if dealing with Hurricane Hilary wasn’t enough for California, at 2:41 pm on August 20th, a 5.1 Magnitude earthquake occurred 4 miles from Ojai, California. No damage appears to be reported. It is a testament to construction and building codes that an earthquake of this size can occur and not cause significant damage to people or property. No moratoriums on new earthquake insurance policies appear to be active.

Due to the earthquake near Ojai, California, there has so far been one insurance company that has put a temporary restriction on writing new policies. This typically lasts for 24 to 36 hours unless another earthquake occurs.

The California FAIR Plan Association announced that it will introduce new home hardening discounts, effective August 23, 2023, for policyholders who take steps to make their homes safer from wildfires. As Californians continue to grapple with the impact of climate-fueled natural disasters across the state, the new discounts are designed to enhance wildfire resilience, support insurance availability and give peace of mind to policyholders.

The amount of savings will depend on which protections policyholders choose to implement. Consumers are encouraged to work with their insurance broker to identify discounts for which they are eligible. To qualify for either the immediate surroundings discount or structural discount, homeowners must meet all of the following criteria:

Immediate Surroundings Protections

• Cleared vegetation and debris from under decks
• Removal of combustible shed and other outbuildings from the immediate surroundings of the home, to at least a distance of 30 feet
• Defensible space compliance (including trimming trees, removal of brush and debris from yard, and compliance with state law and local ordinances)

This information was released directly from the California FAIR Plan Association.