PEMCO Insurance reminds people about landslide risks

SEATTLE -- March 22, 2019 marks five years since 43 people were killed in the Oso landslide.

Part of unstable hill collapsed sending a wall of mud and debris into the community and nearly 50 homes were destroyed.

Derek Wing who is the Communications Manager at PEMCO Insurance joined Q13 News this Morning to talk about landslide risks.

"When we're talking about smaller more localized landslides I think it really boils down to the saturation of the soil, how wet or muddy the soil is, as well as the location" said Wing.

There are signs you can look for to see if the soil around your home might be unstable.


    Wing said if you are thinking about buying property on a hillside, PEMCO recommends you hire a geotechnical expert to check on it first.

    Here are some tips on how to manage slopes to cut your landslide risk:


      As for insurance, landslides fall into the same category as earthquakes and floods, so if your home is damaged it might not be covered.