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SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Government assistance limited after big earthquake MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jul. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Earthquake insurance is extremely expensive, and most people can't afford it. In the event of an earthquake destroying my home, would there be any government financial aid available to help rebuild? — M. Smith, Medford   A recent article in the New Yorker magazine about seismologists' reports that the Pacific Northwest is overdue for "The Really Big One," has shaken a lot of locals, so we reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and read your question to spokesperson Ryan Ike to find out whether it's a good idea to bank on government assistance alone. "That's really never going to be a great bet," Ike said. "People are in control of their own destinies much better than the government is." Ike explained that individual relief money from FEMA is only available once the president has approved a governor's disaster declaration. It primarily covers more immediate needs such as emergency housing and shelter costs, and the maximum payout is much lower than a house would cost.  If a disaster were to hit this year, the maximum payout would be $32,900. According to Ike, the figure shifts each year, factoring in things such as cost of living and available funds, but stays in the $30,000 range. "That's not going to help you rebuild your house," Ike said. A low-interest loan is available through the government's Small Business Administration to help rebuild a house to its condition prior to the disaster. According to the SBA site, the loan is up to $200,000 and cannot be used for upgrades. "That may or may not be sufficient," he said. "Honestly, that's still a loan and you're still waiting on the availability." Applying for a loan in the wake of a disaster can be chaotic because required documents may have been lost or damaged in the disaster, and the applicant is among scores of people in acute need.  "It's just a lot of pressure to be put on, so we try to encourage people to do what they can proactively," Ike said. "We've been really trying to promote that people look into a seismic retrofit." Ike said steps to improve the house's ability to withstand an earthquake are a one-time cost that can significantly reduce earthquake insurance premiums. If that's out of the budget, he encouraged folks to check www.ready.gov/earthquake for simple tips to be better prepared in a quake. Some tips take only a quick trip to the hardware store, such as securing bookshelves, glass jars and picture frames. Ike pointed out that falling items in the home are the largest cause of injuries during a quake. "There's plenty to do, and some if it's not even expensive," Ike said. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. 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