Prepare Your House for an Earthquake

A. California has two-thirds of our nation's earthquake risk. Structures that lack adequate sill plate bolting and cripple-wall bracing are more susceptible to earthquake damage.

The frames of older houses are often not bolted to their foundations, and their cripple walls may lack bracing. Houses without adequate bolting and bracing can slide or topple off their foundation during an earthquake, requiring potentially very expensive repairs. But this serious damage can be prevented with a proper seismic retrofit.

You may be eligible for financial help to pay for your house's retrofit. Learn more about our program—Earthquake Brace + Bolt—that offer grants of up to $3,000 to help pay for a seismic retrofit.

CEA policyholders with properly retrofitted houses are eligible for a discount of up to 25% off your CEA policy premium.

A. Interactive hazard maps are available from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) at its My Hazards Awareness Map website on the “Earthquake Risk” tab. 

Then enter your address into the map search field at the top of the page. When you click “Map Search,” you will be shown your local earthquake hazard on a map. The page will include a description of risks in your area from other hazards such as flood, fire, or tsunami.