Shifting Tides: What to Know About Natural Disasters in San Francisco?
The Bay Area offers a beautiful lifestyle, like outdoor activities including surfing, hiking, and even farm-to-table dining. Still, you have to pay attention to a few things. The Bay Area’s landscape is subject to other risks from Mother Nature. There are earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, flooding, and fires. This article is written to help you make informed decisions about finding a home and living in San Francisco.
Natural Disasters in San Francisco, CA
The 1989 earthquake, Loma Prieta, is still remembered today for the disaster it brought. While we haven’t seen an earthquake of that magnitude in years, San Francisco is not a disaster-proof area. We have construction that accounts for earthquakes here, but we can’t say that we’re ready to fight natural hazards as they come. That’s why it’s important to secure your property investments in San Francisco. This especially applies when you’re buying a house. That is why it is crucial for every new homeowner to carefully research the area and invest in an insurance plan.
You don’t think about natural disasters when searching for your dream home. Do you? The thought won’t enter your mind if you haven’t witnessed a similar hazard in your area. However, it’s an important factor for anyone concerned with real estate.
For instance, many of my clients are unaware that the possibility of natural hazards can affect their mortgage applications. Let me explain why:
● Banks want to protect their investments. That’s why they sometimes require homeowners, mortgage, and umbrella insurance. Banks don’t want to deal with foreclosures or natural hazards. The bank just wants the interest on the loan, and that is it.
California has seen natural disasters like storms, tsunamis, power outages, forest fires, and earthquakes. Despite that, some natural hazard insurance is not included in your home insurance plan. That comes as a surprise to many homeowners, but you need to be prepared. One of the key ones that isn’t included is earthquake insurance, but it is obtainable by your home insurance provider through CEA, which has the ability to pay 19 billion dollars’ worth of claims. Carefully choose an insurance plan that covers the complete cost of rebuilding your home and making living adjustments. You want to protect your investment wisely, as homes in San Francisco can cost a fortune.
Is My Home Located in the Flood Zone in SF?
The proximity to the Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean puts certain areas in San Francisco at risk of flooding. The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) provides detailed interactive maps highlighting the flood zones. You can see areas that are more susceptible to storm surges and heavy rainfall.
Insurance agents and mortgage lenders often review FEMA maps to determine insurance rates and requirements. In some areas, flood insurance is a mandatory requirement by mortgage lenders. You can make an informed decision by consulting the FEMA maps and working alongside an experienced insurance professional to know how much coverage you will need.
Fire Dangers in San Francisco, CA
Wildfires are a common occurrence in California. The city of San Francisco is considered less vulnerable to wildfires compared to other parts of California, but you can’t ignore the risk completely. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) offers interactive wildfire maps. With the help of these maps, you can access real-time information on active fires and their proximity to urban areas. Talk to an expert realtor in San Francisco to understand the fire-hazard risk and the protective measures you need to take.
So How Do I Avoid These Potential Issues?
In San Francisco, it’s challenging to write a single rule of thumb for all properties. Every home is unique here. You need to consider the construction style, location, and age of the property before calling it your home. Is there a landslide risk in your area? Are you searching for homes in tsunami zones? Is it near a hillside? Or is the house sitting on top of the liquefaction zone?
Liquefaction zones question the stability of the soil. In liquefaction zones, soil can act like liquid in the event of an earthquake, which is a dangerous scenario for rigid foundations.
The rule here is to make an informed decision. Research the area carefully and work with an expert agent who will guide you through these potential problems. It’s also smart to invest in an appropriate insurance plan and protect yourself against future issues.
I am Haley Zhao, an experienced real estate agent in San Francisco. Get in touch today if you would like to inquire more about buying or selling a house in the San Francisco Bay Area.
