The hidden earthquake danger lurking inside California homes and what you can do about it

OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.

November 2024 NEWSLETTER

The hidden earthquake danger lurking inside California homes and what you can do about it

Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.

California’s “soft-story” buildings—characterized by open spaces such as garages or carports below living areas—pose a major earthquake hazard, putting millions of residents at risk. Retrofitting these structures with steel columns or engineered walls can prevent collapse, and California has launched a grant program for homeowners to address this defect in single-family homes, now covering a wider range of ZIP codes across the state. For apartment owners, a similar program is set to launch in 2025, initially targeting vulnerable areas with mandatory retrofit laws.

The danger extends to “cripple wall” homes with crawl spaces, often built before 1980. California’s “Brace + Bolt” program offers grants to reinforce these structures by bracing walls and securing homes to foundations, mitigating risks from earthquake-induced sliding or collapse. With support from a $5 million FEMA grant, officials are urging Californians to take advantage of these programs to reduce costs on seismic retrofits and safeguard their homes and communities against future quakes.

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