Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program: Secure Your Home

Limited Time Offer: Up to $3,000 Grant for Seismic Retrofitting

⏰ LIMITED TIME ONLY!

Register today to receive up to $3,000 to seismically retrofit your house!

Now more than ever, a brace and bolt seismic retrofit is an important way to mitigate damage from an earthquake.

Non-owner-occupied houses, including rental and investment properties, now qualify.

A Supplement Grant (SG) may be available for owner-occupied, income-eligible homeowners for households with an annual income at or below $89,040. Funds are limited.

What is a Brace and Bolt Retrofit?

In an Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) retrofit, the foundation is bolted to the frame of the house. If there is a cripple wall in the crawl space under the house, it is braced.

This program offers up to $3,000 to seismically retrofit your home.

Houses that typically qualify:

• Are built before 1980, and may have this vulnerability.
• Have a raised continuous perimeter concrete foundation.
• Sit on level ground or a low-slope.
• May have wood-framed walls (called cripple walls) in the crawl space under the first floor.
• Are located in an EBB eligible Zip Code.

How to Qualify and Register

To see if you qualify, scan the QR code or go to EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.

✅ See if you QUALIFY | ? REGISTER for a grant | ? SHARE with friends and family

[Scan QR code or visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com to see if you qualify]

Watch a short video about an EBB retrofit by scanning the QR code.

Key Components of a Seismic Retrofit

A seismic retrofit involves reinforcing key structural elements of your home to better withstand earthquake forces. The new elements typically include:

• FOUNDATION: The base structure connecting to the ground.
• NEW ANCHOR BOLTS: These are installed to securely connect the house framing to the foundation, preventing the house from sliding off during an earthquake.
• NEW VENT HOLES: Proper ventilation is maintained in the crawl space area.
• GROUND: The earth beneath the foundation.
• NEW WOOD BLOCKING: Installed between the foundation and the house framing to add stability and prevent movement.
• NEW PLYWOOD: May be used to reinforce cripple walls or other structural elements.
• CRIPPLE WALL STUDS: Vertical studs in the crawl space, which are often reinforced with bracing and plywood to prevent buckling.
• NEW FRAMING CLIPS: Metal connectors used to strengthen the joints between different structural components, like studs and plates.
• CRAWL SPACE: The accessible space between the ground and the first floor of the house.
• FLOOR JOISTS: The horizontal beams that support the floor structure.

These reinforcements work together to create a more resilient structure.

Earthquake Risk in California

"According to a recent study, scientists warn the state might be on the brink of a seismic event far larger than previously expected."
— JGR Solid Earth

Likelihood of Damaging Earthquake

The following map illustrates the probability of a damaging earthquake in various regions of California:

• 5-25%
• 25-50%
• 50-75%
• 75-95%
• >95%

Map data provided by Harsha Devulapalli—The Chronicle. Source: U.S. Geological Survey—Geologic Hazards Science Center.