Earthquake-Safety Retrofit Grants For Californians Is Available For $3,000

Retrofitting your home to withstand the impact of earthquakes is an essential, albeit potentially expensive, thing to do. This is particularly true of older homes, where they run the risk of sliding away from their foundation like a hot knife to cold butter.

We’ll discuss how Californians can get $3,000 grants to retrofit homes for earthquake safety. This will include things like fire prevention, installing earthquake brace bolts on the foundation, and foundation repair in Los Angeles. Even residents up to 500 ZIP codes away can apply for this program.

Without a seismic retrofit, your home will sustain hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. This also results in years of living away from your home waiting for the repairs to finish and still owe for the mortgage.

Eligibility & Grant Coverage

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has allocated $80 million for these grants. Any home from 1940 to 1980 is eligible. This is because homes between these years can topple or slide off their foundations during an earthquake. There are an estimated 1.2 million Californian homes left vulnerable.

Applying For The Grant

To apply for the grant, you must submit it by November 29th through the California Residential Mitigation Program. You can find it via the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program. Unfortunately, the state has offered these grants since 2014 and has only retrofitted 17,600 houses.

The $3,000 offered to each applicant will cover most of the costs. On average it costs about $3,000 to $5,000 to retrofit the foundation building in Southern California. It can cost much more in the northern parts of the state. Also, homeowners making less than $72,000 per year are eligible for additional grants.

Other Benefits Of Retrofitting

Cripple walls crawl spaces and unsecured wood beams without brace bolts present a huge problem when the rumbling and shaking begin. There isn’t a solid grip between the foundation and the house, which causes it to slide off.  

So, it’s much better to suffer the two to three-day construction work than it is to be without your home for years. That’s not all. Bracing water heaters and other large appliances are essential to prevent your home from catching fire. Anything with a power supply that shakes in an earthquake has the potential to cause your home to set ablaze.

About Seismic Safety

Let our experts at Seismic Safety by Ed Sylvis Construction take care of all your retrofitting needs. We can help you apply for this generous FEMA grant and get to work retrofitting your home as soon as possible. With years of experience and a genuine concern for the safety of all our customers, you can go wrong getting a free quote today.

Once our technician comes out, we’ll inspect your foundation, appliances, and any other potential dangers or vulnerabilities. You’ll then receive a recommended plan of action to ensure you, your family, and belongings stay as secure as possible.