A magnitude 4.4 earthquake rattled the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, sending lamp posts swaying and nerves jangling from the Westside to the San Fernando Valley.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, but the shake was sharp enough to knock pictures off walls and send thousands of people ducking under desks.
For longtime California residents, that's just another Tuesday.
For everyone else, it's a reminder of a far less exciting topic: earthquake insurance, and why so few people actually have it.
Roughly 90 percent of California homeowners don't carry earthquake coverage, according to industry estimates, even though the state sits on some of the most active fault lines in the country.
A typical policy can run several hundred to several thousand dollars a year, on top of a regular homeowners policy that already pinches budgets.
Most earthquake policies carry a deductible of 10 to 15 percent of your home's value.
On a $700,000 house, that means you could be writing a check for $70,000 or more before the insurer pays a dime.
Many homeowners look at those numbers, run the math, and decide to take their chances instead.
Damage from Monday's quake appears minor, which is good news for wallets in the short term.
But even small earthquakes can crack foundations, shift chimneys, and create hairline fractures that turn into expensive repairs years later.
Standard homeowners insurance almost never covers earth movement, so those bills land squarely on the homeowner.
If you live in a quake-prone state, there are a few practical steps worth taking before the next one hits.
Brace your water heater, anchor bookshelves and TVs, and keep a wrench near the gas meter.
Store a few days of water and nonperishable food.
These moves cost far less than a policy and can prevent thousands in damage.
For those weighing coverage, the California Earthquake Authority offers policies that are generally cheaper than private options, with deductibles starting around 5 percent.
It's worth pricing out before you assume it's out of reach.
Renters can also buy earthquake coverage for contents, often for a modest monthly cost.
Monday's quake was a nudge, not a disaster.
But nudges are cheap, and disasters aren't.
The smartest move is to spend an afternoon on your budget and your bolting, not on your insurance claim.
Our take: disasters rarely announce themselves with a big one first.
Treat a mild shake like a free warning and use it.
Final Thoughts
A few hours of prep and a hard look at your coverage could save you more than any deal you'll find this month.