Allstate Insurance company will no longer be underwriting houses effective in July. No changes will occur for existing customers. The move is supposedly to "limit its exposure to catastrophe" such as earthquakes. Allstate has also trimmed coastal exposure in other states that are prone to natural catastrophes. Allstate has also stopped writing new homeowners policies in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida and New Jersey as well as in eight coastal New York counties. Source: CBS5.com.
Geologic Hazards
Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake February 2011 News Resources
A deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand on February 22, killing at least 147 and with around 200 still missing. Many buildings have been badly damaged or destroyed and residents also had to deal with large quanities of mud and water which was a result of the liquefaction. The same region was affected by a 7.1 magnitude quake in September of 2010. That earthquake was centered deeper and farther from the metropolitan area so there were fewer casualties and less damage. But many buildings that had recently been repaired, or were even still under repair were devastated once again. Some early reports were calling this earthquake an aftershock of the September earthquake, but maps I’ve seen (at right) show pretty clearly it was a different fault segment that ruptured during this earthquake. I have a collection of links below that might be of interest. My heart goes out to the people of New Zealand affected by this disaster.
Geologic Hazards
Sierra El Mayor (Baja) 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake in the Baja region of Mexico on April 4, 2010 (Easter Sunday) caused significant damage in the towns of Mexicali and Calexico and was felt as far away as Phoenix, San […]
Geologic Hazards
Landslide Hazards along Wasatch Front in Utah – Video
Given the earthquake risk from the Wasatch Fault in Utah and the already steep landslide prone terrain in the area, there is definitely cause for concern about the potential for major landslides in the region. […]