Landslides and Mudslide

Developments in Sausalito CA

A smallish Landslide made Headlines here in Marin County this week after tremendous rainstorms.
This happened in Sausalito, California.  According to the Marin Independent Journal: "The Hurricane Gulch duplex slid off its foundation in the 400 block of Sausalito Boulevard at about 3 a.m. "  And "Rescuers pulled a woman from the ruins, and her injuries were minor, said Southern Marin fire Chief Chris Tubbs."

This is horrible news, there is just nothing else to say about it.

About Marin County:

Marin County is the County just north of the San Francisco and the Bay Area.  It is an area filled with wildlands.  Federal National parks, State National parks, Federal Recreation areas, Local water district wildlands, and many many others. 

Getting Home Insurance in Marin County has become pretty difficult these days.  Will this make it even harder?

About Insurance for Landslides:

As an insurance agent, its never never wise to make comments about insurance claims, even for people that are not my clients.  Therefore I will not.

What I will say is taken direct from III (the Insurance Information Institute):  "No. A landslide is considered an “earth movement” event so, like an earthquake, it is excluded from standard homeowners and business insurance policies. "

Moving Forward:

The thing that consumers need to know about landslides (and mudslides) is that they are so infrequent.  And once they do hit, they are total devastation.  In other words there are few "small landslide claims."

Landslides and Mudslides should not be confused with mudflows.  Perhaps it is best to consider mudflows as a "flood of mud." Mudflows, may be covered by flood insurance.