ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the survey findings concerning earthquake insurance purchase, and discusses the reasons given by the respondents for purchasing or not purchasing earthquake insurance. A series of legislation was passed to increase awareness of the earthquake hazard and earthquake insurance as a potential mitigation measure. Homeowners are informed annually of the availability and cost of earthquake insurance. They should be aware of the existence of this form of insurance and its cost. Between 1973 and 1993, earthquake insurance subscription increased dramatically in all study counties. The California Earthquake Recovery Fund was not an important reason for not purchasing insurance; instead the most important factor was the lack of confidence that the insurance industry would actually pay out benefits in a major disaster. Belief in the sufficiency of the California Residential Earthquake Recovery Fund was relatively unimportant in the decision not to purchase catastrophic earthquake coverage.
