When the Earth shakes in Colorado or along the East Coast, the financial reverberations can be felt in insurance offices Lawrence.

Ron King, who sells American Family Insurance, knows that as word travels of an earthquake in Colorado, along the East Coast or — as happened recently — in Alaska, folks in and around northeast Kansas may start wondering if their homeowners’ insurance is on shaky ground.

The short answer: Homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage from an earthquake, but homeowners can add such coverage if desired. On a $200,000 home, the cost is about $35 to $40 a year.

“It just gets people thinking, ‘Gosh, this really happens,’ ” said King, whose Ron King Agency is at 3010 Four Wheel Drive. “It does really happen. That’s why people get insurance.

“I guarantee you: Washington, D.C., never thought they’d have an earthquake. The bottom line: You have to decide if you’re willing to take that risk or whether you want to pay that premium and transfer the risk to the insurance company.”

Sandy Praeger, Kansas insurance commissioner, acknowledges that recent earthquakes might spur interest in such coverage.

“Earthquake coverage is not a part of a regular homeowners, renters or condominium insurance policy,” Praeger said. “If your company offers it, coverage can be added by including an endorsement to your policy or by purchasing a separate earthquake policy. In either case, you will pay an extra premium.”

Praeger, a Lawrence resident, offers this advice:

• Coverage can protect your dwelling, other structures like a garage and your personal property. It may cover increased costs to meeting current building codes and costs to stabilize the land under your dwelling.

• Coverage doesn’t include damage to vehicles. That may be covered under your current automobile policy. Check with your local insurance agent or company to verify the vehicle coverage.

• Insuring a dwelling for its appraisal or loan value likely means you would have only enough coverage to repay your lender. Review your dwelling coverage from time to time to be sure it doesn’t drop below the cost to replace your home.

• Questions to ask yourself: How much would it cost to repair or rebuild your home? How much would it cost to replace your household items? How much would it cost to find a temporary place to live because you couldn’t live in your home after an earthquake?

• The deductible for earthquake insurance typically is 10 to 20 percent of the coverage limit. This is different from a homeowners policy, which is usually only one flat amount deductible, like $500 or $1,000.

King occasionally answers questions about earthquake insurance but has yet to have a single customer ever file an earthquake claim.

“But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in our lifetime,” King said. “People just have to make an informed decision.”