Homes damaged in 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault
Is your house ready for an earthquake?
A house isn’t just a place where you reside, it's your home. Identify possible risks to your house in the next damaging earthquake, and learn about the measures you can take to protect against those risks.
Understand the structural risks your house could face during an earthquake.
Knowing how earthquakes cause structural damage—why it happens and how you can protect against it—can help you minimize earthquake damage to your house. Browse CEA's structural risk pages to educate yourself on foundation anchors, cripple-wall bracing, and more.
Does Your House Need a Seismic Retrofit?
If you own an older house (built before 2000), consider a seismic retrofit to strengthen it and make it more resistant to earthquake damage. You may be eligible for potentially thousands of dollars of grant funding to help pay for your retrofit.
Learn about the geologic hazards that threaten your property
No area of California is without earthquake risk, and some terrains increase the risk of house damage from seismic activity. Read our information on geologic hazards, from ground shaking and surface rupture to landslides and liquefaction.
Browse helpful information on preparing your home for an earthquake
Prepare Your House FAQs
Browse these retrofitting FAQs for important details about how you can limit earthquake damage to your house—reasons to retrofit, how retrofits work, and hiring a qualified retrofitting contractor.
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.
A. Resources for bracing your water heater include: Earthquake Country Alliance and Seismic CA.