Many homeowners don't buy earth movement coverage because they don't live in earthquake zones and they assume that the coverage only applies to earthquakes. However, there are many other forms of earth movements that can damage your house, and they aren't included in standard homeowner's insurance. Here are some examples of such earth movements:
Landslide
A landslide occurs when a mass of earth or rock moves down a slope. This can happen, for example, if the mass of earth or rock is loosened up by rainfall, flood or snowmelt. Whatever the cause of a landslide, it can damage your siding or even knock down your entire house depending on its severity and size. You should be especially wary of a landslide if your house is built on a slope or at the foot of a hill.
Sinking or Rising
A house sinks when the mass of earth under the foundation moves downward. This form of earth settlement can be caused by different things. For example, it can happen if the soil under the foundation loses its moisture and shrinks; this is common with clay soils. It can also happen when the soil under the house gets clogged with moisture and loses its density, allowing the weight of the house to press it down. As you can see, foundation settlement has nothing to do with earthquakes.
Then there is also rising, the opposite of sinking, which happens when the soil under your house bulges or heaves. Rising, which can be caused by too much water in the soil or erosion, is also not covered under standard home insurance coverage.
Earthquake
Lastly, you should also not expect your standard home insurance coverage to come to your rescue if your house is damaged by an earthquake. An earthquake is an intense shaking of the earth's surface caused by movements of huge chunks of earth/rocks under the earth's surface. An earthquake can destroy your entire house or only damage some of its parts such as the roof, foundation or walls.
Earthquake damage, therefore, can trigger costly repairs for your house. This is why you should consider buying earthquake coverage for your house if you live in an earthquake zone. In fact, if you are planning to buy a home in an earthquake zone, you should factor in earthquake coverage as part of your homeownership expenses.
As you can see, standard home insurance coverage is rarely adequate for most homeowners. Ideally, you should evaluate your specific risks with the help of an insurance agent to help you determine which coverage will protect you best.
