Northern California was rocked by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake over the weekend, which was the largest such incident to occur in the state's bay area in 25 years. Immediately after, multiple reports surfaced stating that shockingly few Californians actually held earthquake insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, eight out of every nine California residents don't buy earthquake insurance, even though the state is highly prone to the natural disasters. 

Here in eastern Canada, earthquakes aren't the issue, but we have our own serious weather incidents to consider. If we've learned anything from our neighbors to the southwest this week, it's that it's important to consider your surroundings, evaluate the potential for local natural disasters, and manage your insurance options accordingly. It's estimated that the damage caused by the California quake could surpass $1 billion. Make sure you are prepared to cover yourself should any incident here locally cause a similar level of damage.

There are other things you can do to prepare for a natural disaster, including:

Project potential damages: Historical data can give you an idea as to what kind of damage an oncoming storm might cause. Pay attention to the media and contact your insurance agent to get a sense of just what could happen to your property in the event of a major natural disaster. It's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. 

Cover your communication bases: If you lose power, or your cable or phone lines go out, it might be difficult to communicate with friends and loved ones to either find out their condition or let you know you are ok. It might also be difficult to learn new valuable information from meteorologists or emergency response organizations. You should typically identify three means for communication or information consumption, which allows you to have a backup plan.

Following these tips and working with a homeowners insurance provider can help ensure you are prepared for a local natural disaster.