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After a California Earthquake: Attitude and Behavior Change (University of Chicago Geography Research Papers)

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Through a fortuitous coincidence of the authors surveying homeowners in Loma Prieta before its 1989 quake, they were able to do follow up surveys afterwards. The book analyses the responses. To ascertain any significant changes. In California, due to the cost of real estate and the risk of quakes, this is an important issue. They found that there was little increase in the taking out of insurance after the event. Even for those in the region of the epicentre.

Ironically, it may be that the strong building codes helped diminish both the material damage and death toll, but which also reduced incentive for more insurance. The book also investigates other factors, like the distance from the epicentre, in affecting homeowners' decisions about insurance.