The Governing Board of the California Earthquake Authority gave its approval to a $300,000 research project aimed at providing new guidelines for the earthquake insurance claim process, as well as improving repairs to damaged homes. While close to 98 percent of the single-family homes in California are built of woodframe, scant research has been conducted to determine how this type of construction withstands earthquakes.
“The research will test several earthquake damage repair methods for walls and concrete to determine which provide the most effective repairs,” said CEA spokesman Mark Leonard. California Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREe), a consortium of the state’s main university-based earthquake engineering institutes, will conduct the research as an extension of a major study of woodframe homes funded by FEMA.
The CEA-sponsored portion of the study will assist claims adjusters and engineers to more effectively complete their jobs following an earthquake. A lack of standardized procedures for assessing quake damage has been an issue concerning earthquake coverage.


Banks Still Face Legal Claims After $25 Billion Settlement
MF Global Judge to Examine Insurance Payments for Former Executives
Daredevil CEOs May Put Companies at Risk
California Independent Contractor Law May Be Liability for Agents, Brokers
North Carolina Continues Auto Regulation Debate As Rates Stay Same for 2012
Long-time California Lobbyist Looks to 2012 Legislation Affecting Insurance
Mine Safety Chief Seeks to End Complacency Over Safety
Virginia Court Grants Rehearing of Global Warming Claims Case


