LOWCOUNTRY, S.C. (WCIV) — There are millions of low-magnitude earthquakes that occur around the world every year, including the 2.2 magnitude seismic event that shook parts of the Lowcountry Wednesday. Earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 tend can often not even be felt, but they still serve as reminders of Charleston’s past struggle with the natural phenomenon.
State Rep. Gil Gatch (District 94) introduced a bill several years ago that would mandate insurance providers to offer coverage for loss or damage caused by an earthquake. Its current iteration was prefiled in Dec. 2024 and it was introduced in Jan. 2025 before being referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, and Industry, where Gatch serves as vice chairman.
“[H.3227] just asks insurance companies, if they have an earthquake policy for their homeowners insurance products, that they would make people aware that they live on a fault,” Gatch told News 4 Wednesday. “If you’re in Summerville, you live on a fault, and that there is insurance coverage available and it costs however much it costs, and they’re just offering it to them so that they have the opportunity to protect their home.”…