State officials are urging homeowners in Southern California to retrofit homes to earthquake standards and get earthquake insurance.
Given the recent spike in large-scale earthquakes, both California officials and residents are taking proactive measures. Residents are seeking to protect homes and communities from damage.
“Retrofitting your home is a simple step to make your life more resilient and could save you enormous hardship,” said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Emergency Services Office of the Governor of South Pasadena.
Earthquake retrofitting is particularly important for older homes built pre-1978 and Soft Story apartment structures. Pre-1978 homes and buildings in Southern California were not built to withstand earthquake damage. Many older homes lack modern seismic reinforcements and are vulnerable to earthquake damage.
“Reducing the chance of a house falling off its foundation during the earthquake, while at the same time lowering the cost of earthquake insurance for the homeowner, is a great result,” Ghilarducci added.
Would you like to receive a $3,000 retrofit grant?
Following recent quakes in Ridgecrest, the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to grant up to $3,000 to homeowners in retrofit grants. Approximately 30,000 CEA policyholders will benefit from the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program grants.
The Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program provides homeowners up to $3,000 to strengthen their home and lessen the potential for earthquake damage.
Prior to the vote, only 12,000 CEA policy holders were eligible to apply for the retrofit grant introduced earlier this year. The CEA is a non-profit organization providing earthquake insurance while working in California to reduce the risk of earthquake damage.
SoCal homeowners eligible for earthquake retrofitting grants may receive an additional 25% off their CEA earthquake insurance premium when they retrofit homes.
“Californians face the reality that an earthquake could strike at any moment,” said Ricardo Lara, the state insurance commissioner. “Preparation and mitigation will be critical for millions of Californians living in homes that are not built to cope with a major quake.”
The Brace + Bolt program provides $3,000 grants to be used toward a code-compliant seismic retrofit. You can contact us to find out more about the program and if your house qualifies.
Many homeowners will decide to hire a contractor to do the retrofit work instead of doing it themselves. Weinstein Construction is a participating contractor in the Brace + Bolt program. We can help you protect your property from earthquake damage. Contact our earthquake retrofitting experts for a no-obligation property inspection.
