Understanding Earthquake Structural Risks by House Type
No area of California is without earthquake risk, but there are many ways to prepare your house to lower its risk of structural damage from an earthquake. Learn how earthquakes can damage your house, and find solutions that work for your homesite and construction type. If one of these houses looks similar to yours, learn more about ways to strengthen it against earthquake damage.
Older houses with steps up to the first floor can shift off their foundations from earthquake shaking. They would be strengthened by bracing the crawl space walls, if they exist, and bolting the house to its foundation.
Raised Continuous Perimeter Foundation
Houses with one or more floors of living space over an attached garage are vulnerable to shaking. Retrofitting the garage space can make it more resistant to earthquakes.
Living Space Over Garage
A house without a continuous perimeter foundation can shift or collapse in an earthquake. Adding a foundation that is braced and bolted will strengthen the house.
Post & Pier
Houses built on hillsides can suffer from specific vulnerabilities, and may need to be strengthened in several ways to be properly braced against earthquakes.
Hillside House
These types of homes can slide off their support systems during an earthquake. They can be strengthened against shaking with a seismic bracing system.
Mobilehomes & Manufactured Homes
Older chimneys can crack and fall away from the house during or after an earthquake. And brick, stone, or decorative fireplace components can be a hazard, inside.
Chimneys & Fireplaces
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 how a retrofit may help you get a 25% discount on your CEA policy premium.
