Californians have a few days left to apply for a grant up to $3,000 for earthquake retrofitting

CALIFORNIA – Californians have a few more days – until March 26, to apply for a grant up to $3,000 to retrofit their homes for an earthquake.

There is a more than 99% chance in the next 30 years one or more magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquakes will hit somewhere in California, according to a report on the California Earthquake Authority site.

The California Residential Mitigation Program, established in 2011, offers grants and incentives to help California homeowners retrofit single-family homes against earthquake damage.

Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program

Registration is now open for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program. The retrofit “braces and bolts” the house to its foundation.

Homeowners who live in select ZIP Codes may be eligible for grants to help pay for a seismic retrofit of their house. Supplemental grants up to $7,000 are also available for qualified income-eligible homeowners.

Only raised-foundation wood-framed homes built before 1980 qualify for the program.

Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS) program

The Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS) program is also accepting applications. The program offers retrofits for older homes (pre-2000) with living spaces above garages to make them more resistant to earthquake damage.

In an ESS seismic retrofit, the foundation is bolted to the frame of the house, perimeter walls of the lowest story are braced, and the walls at the garage door (or any other large opening) are strengthened with plywood, steel, or other proprietary elements.

Once an applicant is accepted into either program, they have 90 days to gather the required pre-retrofit documents and select an approved contractor.

For more information about the grant programs visit https://www.californiaresidentialmitigationprogram.com/