Eligible Humboldt County homeowners may now register to apply for grants of up to $3,000 to help strengthen their homes against future earthquake damage.
The application period for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program is open now through Wednesday, Oct. 1 at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com. For the first time, non-primary residential properties, like rentals and second homes, are eligible for EBB funds, allowing even more qualifying homeowners the opportunity to apply for seismic retrofit grants.
Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program Details & Eligibility
The EBB program is administered by the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) which is a joint powers agreement between the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
EBB funds cannot be used to pay for repairs to homes damaged in previous earthquakes. It can be used to protect eligible properties against damages resulting from future earthquakes.
An EBB retrofit includes bracing short wooden walls, known as cripple walls, of older houses, when present, and bolting houses to their foundation, making them less vulnerable to earthquake damage. Your house may qualify for an EBB grant if it is:
- Built before 1980
- On a raised foundation or has a crawl space underneath
- In an EBB ZIP code
- Built on level ground or a slight slope
- Has wood framed construction
Income-eligible property owners may also qualify for supplemental grants to complete a seismic retrofit. These grants are available for households with an income at or below $89,040 and may be able to provide up to 100% of the funds needed to cover a seismic retrofit as funding permits.
How to Apply
Humboldt County property owners can apply for retrofit funding at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com. At this website, property owners can check if their property is in an EBB eligible ZIP code, review detailed program information and begin searching for a FEMA-trained, California-licensed general contractor. For customer service assistance, please call 877-232-4300.
Once registration closes, qualifying home and property owners will be selected through a random drawing and notified via email if they have been chosen or if they have been placed on the waitlist.
Be Prepared
Northern California is one of the most earthquake-prone spots in the United States.
According to the CEA, more than 1.2 million houses in high hazard ZIP codes are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because of how they were built. These homes are typically built before 1980, are wood framed with a raised foundation, and may have a cripple wall in the crawl space under the house. If your home fits this description and has not already been retrofitted, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services encourages you to consider looking into what seismic retrofit options are available to you.
While retrofitting your house will not make it completely earthquake proof, it is an important step to help reduce earthquake damage.
For more information on the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program, please visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.
To find more information on earthquake preparedness, please visit humboldtgov.org/earthquake.
About Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)
Established by the California Residential Mitigation Program, EBB offers grants to help California homeowners retrofit their houses to reduce potential damage from earthquakes. For more information, please visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.
About the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)
CRMP was established in 2011 to help Californians strengthen their homes against damage from earthquakes. CRMP is a joint powers authority created by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. For more information, please visit crmp.org.