Things were moving for worse in Japan. First an earthquake, then a tsunami and now the threat of a nuclear disaster. It all makes our hearts ache for survivors and victims in Japan alike.

It is absolutely understandable that massive earthquakes are harmful and emotionally distressing. In Japan, the Sendai quake shook the country as strong as to reach 9.0 points on the Richter scale. It placed as the 5th strongest quake ever recorded. The might, however, is not actually the most crucial either – a less significant quake hitting an inhabited area may cause more harm than a massive one far from the coast. The last quake hit our province in 2010, hitting us just a few months ago in June 2010 at the border between Québec and Ontario. When you actually enduring something like that, the problem you do not want to think about having to pay to pick up the shattered pieces – this is where life insurance coverage may kick in.

LSM asked 5 chief Canadian insurance providers and all of these will cover death of the client caused by a disaster. The client, however, cannot be a victim of the natural disaster in specifically excepted places.

The commonness of really strong natural disasters of this sort is on the rise. It was but eight weeks prior to the quake in Sendai that swaths of Australia were under water.

Between the 80s and 90s, the number of people dying as a result of natural disasters has thankfully shrunk slightly from the mean 86 thousand each year to only 75,252 each year, yet the number of people who were directly affected rose from about 147 million per year to about 211 million annually.

There are 200% more natural disasters these days than there ever were in the 60s. What is more, the monetary impact has increased by a factor of nine in the same time span.

Death in an earthquake is increasingly possible every year, so life insurance that steps in when the insured suffers an earthquake is a rather sensible need.

Lorne Marr, author, is life insurance cost professional

Did you feel the earthquake that hit south eastern Ontario and parts of Quebec on June 23, 2010 at 1:41 pm EST?

Luckily, the magnitude was only 5.0 according to the US Geological Survey, and no hefty damage was documented. The centre of the earthquake was 61 km north of Ottawa.

As stories came in, many individuals spoke of a gradual rumbling which increased in intensity, a bit like building work going off below or around you. One person even experienced it as high as the ninth floor of her office building. The rumbling sensation may have been minor, but Lorne definitely felt the earthquake.

The quake puts in your thoughts just how susceptible we are in Canada to natural disaster, even though one of this size only occurs once a decade. It certainly makes me wonder what I can do to look after myself and my family should another disaster happen.

Along with the usual emergency readiness, part of your preparation should include life insurance.

Earthquakes are among the most expensive natural disasters, together with floods and windstorms. Earthquakes answered for 30% of all damage by natural disasters from 1950-2001. Even though the human cost of earthquakes is only 9% compared to the 42% occurring due to famine, famine only accounts for 4% of the damage which is tiny in contrast to earthquakes.

The facts and figures make troubled reading, people hit by natural disasters in the 80′s was 147 million, which jumped by another 64 million in the 90′s, with lives lost going from over 86000 down to 75252 per year in the same periods.

When looking at natural disasters today to the 1960′s we see that there are 3 times the amount taking place and the financial impact has increased dramatically as well.

Therefore with this large climb in disasters individuals are now turning to ways of protecting our families in such events.

The five main Canadian insurance companies we surveyed do provide death benefits for you and your family if such disasters happen, but you need to check the policy carefully if you choose not to use them and go elsewhere. There are exclusions though, these will include natural disaster taking place in locations such as war zones or any area that travel is not recommended.

Prepared by Lorne S. Marr, the founder of LSM Insurance and mortgage life insurance expert

South eastern Ontario and some of Quebec were affected by an earthquake last week, did you feel it?

It was sheer luck, the magnitude was only 5.0 according to the US Geological Survey, and no major damage was reported. The centre of the earthquake was 61 km north of Ottawa.

There have been lots of descriptions of how the earthquake was felt, but the simplest one to imagine is construction work going on beneath you. The rumble could be noticed as high up as the 9th floor of office and condominium blocks according to eye witnesses. Lorne said that the rumblings felt quite small where he was, but he definitely felt them.

The quake puts in your thoughts just how susceptible we are in Canada to natural disaster, even though one of this size only takes place once a decade. It makes you stop and think, how ready are you and your household for the big one?

Life insurance should be part of any provisions you make to cope with disaster such as the earthquake last week.

Earthquakes are amongst the most expensive natural disasters, together with floods and hurricanes. To put it in context from 1950 to 2002, earthquakes accounted for 30% of devastation by natural disasters alone. However, they account for only 9% of the human cost, diminishing in comparison to famine, which killed 42% of people, but accounts for only 4% of the total devastation over those years.

People losing their lives fell in the 90′s from 86,328 per year in the 80′s to 75,252; but those affected by natural disaster increased from147 million in the 80s to 211 million people a year in the 90′s.

With a massive increase in monetary impact from natural disasters since the 1960′s we also see an increase of natural disasters, which isn’t good news.

Therefore with this large increase many of us are now turning to ways of looking after our families in such events.

Searching for life insurance that covers these types of disasters is important, so read the small print, satisfyingly all the five influential Canadian insurance companies we looked at do. There are caveats though, these will include natural disaster taking place in locations such as war zones or any area that travel is not recommended.

Prepared by L.S. Marr, the founder of LSM Insurance and mortgage life insurance expert