Insurance Experts Help Those Impacted By Pawnee Earthquake

More earthquakes rattled Oklahoma Thursday, including a 2.5 magnitude quake northwest of Pawnee.

Quakes also shook Payne, Noble, and Garfield counties in central Oklahoma.

Thursday, the Oklahoma Insurance Department stepped up to help those with damage from the state's most powerful earthquake that rumbled on Saturday.

For about eight hours, people living in town got the chance to sit down with the experts.

9/8/2016 Related Story: Pawnee Quake Victims Get Help With Insurance Claims

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake knocked down pictures, dishes and other things in Jeff Burch's house.

He and his wife have cleaned up, but they can't fix the split beams or shattered blocks below his double wide by themselves. They'll rely on insurance for that.

"It is just a matter of time, just a matter of time. There's not much more stress that that can take," he said.

Burch, like so many others in Pawnee, plans to file insurance claims to fix the damage, and Oklahoma Insurance Department representatives are helping by offering free earthquake insurance claim help.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak said, “Earthquake coverage is catastrophic coverage, and that's the way it is priced, so we're trying to just educate folks in Oklahoma."

Doak said earthquake damage isn't covered under typical homeowners insurance, so it's important to sit down with a licensed agent and talk about deductibles and how much coverage you need.

Looking at Burch's insurance, he's done just that, and it's going to save him a lot of money.

"We're talking about a $75,000 loss, potentially. That is in the claims process right now, and this consumer will have about a $7,000 deductible. I can tell you a $7,000 is better than having a $70,000 hit," Doak said.

Burch said he worries about another quake rumbling through, but won't worry if he has enough insurance.

For people who didn't make it out, you can call 1-800-522-0071 or visit oid.ok.gov for more information.