BC's Big ShakeOut Shows Awareness — Yet Earthquake Insurance Gap Remains
Roughly 850,000 British Columbians took part in earthquake preparedness drills, yet insurance industry data continues to show that a large share of households in the province still lack dedicated earthquake coverage, leaving them financially exposed to a major Cascadia Subduction Zone event.
What happened
About 850,000 British Columbians participated in earthquake preparedness drills, reflecting widespread public engagement with seismic risk in Canada's most earthquake-prone province. Even with this strong turnout, the insurance industry continues to flag a stubborn coverage gap, with a significant share of BC households reportedly lacking dedicated earthquake insurance ahead of a potential major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.
What it means for consumers
Mass participation in drills shows that residents broadly recognize the threat, but the insurance gap suggests awareness is not translating into financial protection. Standard home and tenant policies in Canada typically exclude earthquake damage, meaning a major event could leave unprotected households responsible for the full cost of rebuilding, temporary housing and repairs. For families who assume they are covered, a careful policy review is overdue.
What it means for premiums
No direct premium change has been announced.
Coverage considerations
Homeowners should confirm whether their policy includes earthquake coverage automatically, offers it as an optional endorsement, or excludes it entirely. Condo owners need to check the strata corporation's master policy to see how damage to the building and individual units is divided between the corporation and the unit owner. Tenants should verify whether their contents policy addresses earthquake-related loss. Earthquake deductibles are also notably higher than standard policy deductibles — often set at 10% to 20% of the dwelling value — so consumers should weigh whether the premium savings justify the out-of-pocket exposure if the worst occurs.