Despite risk, most Californians don’t have earthquake insurance

The 6.1 magnitude earthquake that rattled Northern California early Sunday morning shocked a populated area, damaging buildings, sparking fires, rupturing utility lines and injuring at least 176 people.

Experts say it is too early to fully put a dollar figure on the damage, and the U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake’s economic impact is likely more than $1 billion.

Only about one in ten Californians have insurance to cover the damage to their homes and property, according to the California Earthquake Authority. It estimated the numbers are even lower in some of the areas that were affected Sunday, such as Napa, where as few as 6% have coverage.

Surveys show the percentage of homeowners who have earthquake insurance is declining across the country.