The $390 Billion San Francisco Earthquake

According to United States Geological Survey, there is a 50% chance or better of an earthquake measuring 7 or greater on the Richter scale hitting San Francisco in the next 75 years. Based on 24/7 Wall St.’s analysis of data and reports produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, USGS, Stanford University, insurance consultant RMS, and a number of other sources, we determined that the costs of an earthquake in San Francisco measuring the same size and hitting the site of the famous 1906 disaster would reach $390 billion. That is nearly 25% of the U.S. government’s deficit for the current fiscal year.