Monday, January 14, 2008

Insurance industry wants to worm out of earthquake-fire

The insurance industry continues its quest to exit the earthquake business, while others are happy-happy. Currently, if your house is smashed by an earthquake, it is best to quickly set fire to it (but rubble is darn hard to light!). Once in a while it happens that fires are a result of earthquakes.

That is why there was always a big controversy about the 1906 Great Fire of San Francisco. They never wanted to call it the Great Earthquake, because of the fire insurance! But it's going to be difficult to separate regular fires from earthquake fires. If the house next door burns because of an earthquake-ruptured gas line, and sets your house on fire, is it an earthquake-fire? Wow!

Those along the coast in BC won't have to worry about this. The great tsunami will come and wash away all evidence. Surly that is flood damage?

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