Temblor
Building-level earthquake risk scoring and catastrophe modeling for insurance, reinsurance, and government.
Overview
Temblor, Inc. is a catastrophe modeling company specializing in seismic hazard and earthquake risk assessment. Founded in 2014 by former United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientists Ross Stein and Volkan Sevilgen, Temblor brings peer-reviewed scientific methods to commercial insurance and reinsurance markets through transparent, independently validated models.
The company develops building-level risk scores and stochastic catastrophe models used by insurers, reinsurers, insurance-linked securities (ILS) investors, mortgage lenders, and government agencies to price, select, and manage earthquake risk. Temblor's products are distinguished by their open-science methodology and peer-reviewed basis, making them auditable by clients and regulators. The company also operates the Temblor consumer app and publishes Temblor Earthquake News, an editorial platform covering seismic science and insurance market implications.
Notable institutional clients include the World Bank, national governments, and leading global reinsurers and ILS funds. In 2025, Temblor's tsunami and earthquake models underpinned a parametric insurance program for Pacific Island nations through the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC), with a successful payout to Samoa within 10 days of the Kamchatka tsunami.
Products & Services
Temblor Earthquake Score
A building-level seismic risk metric that synthesizes site hazard, soil amplification, liquefaction risk, landslide risk, and structural vulnerability into a single score for insurance pricing and risk selection.
Key Features
- Global coverage using STAMP (Site Amplification Modeling), the highest-resolution site amplification model commercially available
- Independently tested and peer-reviewed methodology
- Integrates local building codes and construction type data
- Supports portfolio screening and individual property underwriting
Target Users: P&C underwriters, portfolio managers, mortgage lenders, real estate professionals
TemblorCat -- Catastrophe Loss Models
Stochastic event sets and dynamic hazard and loss forecasts for global earthquake risk. Includes the first globally consistent insurance loss model for seismic peril.
Key Features
- Stochastic event sets with 50,000 simulations for multi-year loss forecasting
- Post-earthquake dynamic hazard updates with aftershock modeling
- ILS-compatible output suitable for parametric trigger structures
- Transparent, open-science methodology peer-reviewed by academic institutions
Target Users: Reinsurers, ILS funds, parametric insurance providers, risk managers
Realtime Risk and Aftershock Forecasting
Dynamic hazard updates and aftershock probability forecasts released immediately following major earthquake events, providing markets with real-time updated risk assessments.
Key Features
- Real-time seismic hazard updates post-event
- Aftershock probability and magnitude forecasting based on Omori's law and Gutenberg-Richter relations
- Transparent methodology aligned with established seismology
Target Users: Reinsurance brokers, parametric insurers, risk management teams
Temblor App (Consumer)
A free web and mobile application (iOS, Android) allowing property owners and renters to view their building-level earthquake hazard score, receive mitigation guidance, and track seismic activity.
Key Features
- Address-level seismic risk scoring for the US and global locations
- Liquefaction and landslide risk layers
- Integration with USGS ShakeMap real-time data
- Mitigation guidance and preparedness resources
Target Users: Homeowners, renters, real estate professionals, insurance customers
Temblor Earthquake News
An editorial platform producing peer-reviewed earthquake research, breaking seismic event coverage, and analysis of earthquake impacts on infrastructure and insurance markets.
Key Features
- Original scientific analysis of global earthquake events
- Insurance and financial market implications coverage
- Global earthquake tracking and impact assessment
Target Users: Insurance professionals, scientists, media, general public
At a Glance
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- Redwood City, California
- Employees
- 1-10
- Funding
- Bootstrapped
Category & Focus
- Category
- Reinsurance Technology
- Subcategories
- Catastrophe Modeling Seismic Risk Scoring Parametric Insurance
- Insurance Verticals
- Specialty/E&S Reinsurance P&C Commercial
- Target Customers
- Carriers, Reinsurers, MGAs/MGUs
Customers
- World Bank
- Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC)
- National governments in developing regions (undisclosed)
- Global reinsurance companies and ILS funds (undisclosed)
Last updated: 2026-04-08