Strengthen Your House

Get Prepared. Worry Less.

Earthquakes in California are inevitable, but the damage they cause is preventable. While older houses in California are charming, many are also vulnerable to shake damage. Find your house type or hazard below and learn about its vulnerabilities, and what you can do to strengthen your property against earthquake damage. While seismic retrofitting a house does not guarantee against damage, it can help to improve its performance in an earthquake by making it stronger and more resilient. This can help make your house safer for you and your family.

Raised Foundation

Older houses with steps up to the first floor can shift off their foundations from earthquake shaking. They would be strengthened by bracing the crawl space walls, if they exist, and bolting the house to its foundation.
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Living Space Over Garage

Houses with one or more floors of living space over an attached garage are vulnerable to shaking. Retrofitting the garage space can make it more resistant to earthquakes.
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Post & Pier

A house without a continuous perimeter foundation can shift or collapse in an earthquake. Adding a foundation that is braced and bolted will strengthen the house.
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Hillside House

Houses built on hillsides can suffer from specific vulnerabilities, and may need to be strengthened in several ways to be properly braced against earthquakes.
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Mobilehomes & Manufactured Homes

These types of homes can slide off their support systems during an earthquake. They can be strengthened against shaking with a seismic bracing system.
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Chimneys & Fireplaces

Older chimneys can crack and fall away from the house during or after an earthquake. And brick, stone, or decorative fireplace components can be a hazard, inside.
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Next Steps to Strengthen Your House

Take the Path to Home Resilience

Once you’ve identified your house type and its vulnerabilities, you may need help making a plan or finding a contractor. Let us help you with information on the retrofit process and funding opportunities.

Next Steps

Other Financial Assistance Options

Other Financial Assistance Options

There are other resources for funding your earthquake retrofit, outside of CRMP grants.

See Alternative Funding Sources
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