October 15 is the Great ShakeOut, a day when millions of Americans participate in earthquake drills while at school, work or home.

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) is using October as a reminder for residents to consider earthquake insurance as part of an emergency preparedness plan.

Southeastern Missouri and the St. Louis region are at risk for earthquakes, as they are part of the New Madrid region. Earthquake damage is not covered in standard homeowners or renters insurance policies.

Despite being at risk for earthquake damage, the number of homes with earthquake insurance is shrinking. In the seven-county New Madrid region, earthquake insurance has fallen from 18.3% in 2015 to 10.4% in 2025, according to DCI.

Families living in Missouri‘s primary fault-line areas already face higher annual premiums to protect their homes, DCI reported. Purchasing earthquake insurance is an additional expense that families must weigh amidst general inflation.

“We see the numbers, and we understand why families are making the difficult decision to drop this coverage,” DCI director Angela Nelson said. “When you are forced to choose between groceries or gas and an extra insurance premium, the immediate need almost always wins.

“The difficult reality in Missouri, though, is that it is not a matter of if an earthquake will happen, but when. If the worst happens tomorrow, what is your plan to rebuild if you don’t have insurance?”

DCI said insurers in the New Madrid zone have reported offering more flexible options for earthquake insurance in recent years, with most now offering deductibles of 10% or less of the property’s value.

The department encourages prospective buyers of earthquake insurance to compare deductible options, shop around and prioritize assets.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Missouri