North Union residents offered mine subsidence insurance options
Submitted photo
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers mine subsidence insurance to residents across Pennsylvania, noting that many area properties are considered to be over or near an underground mine. Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Submitted photo
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers mine subsidence insurance to residents across Pennsylvania, noting that many area properties are considered to be over or near an underground mine. Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
With a majority of North Union Township considered to be over or near an underground mine, the state is imploring residents to consider purchasing mine subsidence insurance.
“We want to encourage them to get this insurance should the worst happen,” said Neil Shader, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). “This area has a lot of mining history.”
Shader said the DEP regularly campaigns throughout the year in the commonwealth to raise awareness of what can happen if subsidence occurs and explain the benefits of specialized mine subsidence insurance.
According to the DEP, mine subsidence is the movement of the ground surface as a result of the collapse of underground coal or clay mine workings. Those collapses can cause significant damage to surface foundations and structures. DEP officials estimate the average claim payout to exceed $50,000.
North Union Township Supervisor Rob Tupta said he was initially surprised to see how much of the township was covered in the gray area on the map, referring to an interactive map on the DEP website that identifies locations with underground mines.
“It’s crucial because you don’t know what’s underneath you or where your home is situated,” Tupta said. “It’s good to have.”
The DEP interactive map can be accessed online at http://www.depgis.state.pa.us/msiRisk/ .
Tupta said officials purchased the insurance for the township building years ago, knowing that there are underground mines nearby. This is the first time, however, that DEP has approached the township’s residents about the insurance.
There was no “inclement mine event,” Shader said, but rather North Union Township was next on their list of municipalities to approach in Fayette County.
“We highly recommend it for people to have,” Tupta said. “It’s sounds like if you don’t have this insurance, and something happens, tough luck.”
Shader agreed.
“Mine subsidence is not covered under most homeowner policies,” Shader said. “Any damage as a result — especially in the area in southwest Pennsylvania with a lot of old, abandoned mines — may cause shifting and damage to foundations, and can be expensive.”
The insurance typically covers buildings, with limited coverage extending to certain adjacent structures like patios, sidewalks, driveways, in-ground swimming pools, fences and retaining walls, according to the DEP.
“(The insurance) also covers incidental costs, such as temporary relocation expenses and certain damages due to sudden breakouts of mine water from adjacent abandoned mines,” Shader said.
“The rates are pretty reasonable. There’s some self-satisfaction at knowing how inexpensive it is,” Tupta said.
According to DEP officials, mine subsidence insurance costs “pennies a day,” and is available from $5,000 to $500,000.
“Ninety-five thousand in coverage costs about 15 cents a day ($55 a year), and $195,000 in coverage costs about 29 cents a day ($105 a year),” DEP officials said. “Seniors age 65 and older receive a 10 percent discount on their primary residence.”
DEP officials also recommend that homes are insured up to its replacement costs plus 20 percent for other covered losses.
Tupta said information for residents will be available at the township building. Residents can also purchase the insurance coverage or file a claim by calling the state’s insurance provider at 800-922-1678.