Most catastrophes are covered by your homeowner's policy. Flood and earthquake damage, however, are not covered in the standard policy.

Earthquake insurance is a unique coverage for two reasons: 1) the deductible is substantial, and 2) the policy helps the most in the event of a sever loss.

When it comes to earthquake or flood insurance, the decision to insure or self insure is very personal. In most cases we can write coverage in conjunction with Homeowners policies, as well as on a stand-alone basis.

Additional Resources:
Earthquakes: Risk and Insurance Issues
Rethinking Your Stance on Earthquake Coverage