Protecting Your Home: What About Earthquakes?

Long Beach house built 1922

Some aspects of climate change have brought more catastrophic events to different regions--in California earthquakes especially have long been present due to geologic features, such as the San Andreas Fault. Native Californians or others who've spent most of their lives in this state may have experienced past quakes to one degree or another:  further in the past was the 1933 Long Beach quake, more recently were Sylmar/San Fernando and the fall of the Oakland Bridge (Loma Prieta).  There have been many earthquakes in California, see the list at the link.   The major ones can be devastating, causing loss of life, displacement of homes, disruption in lives.  

There are things that property owners can do to at least minimize impact to themselves, their families, or their tenants.  One is obtaining earthquake insurance, and another is preparing your home's physical structure doing some simple things: foundation bolts and plywood bracing for certain older homes with cripple walls (when you bought your house the seller should have provided you with a booklet concerning this)--for a more extensive strengthening an owner might want to do a retrofit.  There may also be a grant available for such help--find out more at the California Earthquake Authority site for units over garages, mobile homes, hillside houses, post and pier homes, etc.  

There are over 500 active faults in California and most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault. Based on a study in 2014, there is a 75% likelihood of one or more magnitude 7.0+ quakes striking Southern California in the next 30 years.

Homeowners can add earthquake coverage to their home insurance, and condominium owners, especially those in a multiunit multifamily style homeowners association which does not have a master earthquake coverage, may purchase their own coverage for the interior of their unit--it not only gives replacement value but can also provide living expenses for some time into the future.

Communities that have been struck by disasters can recover more fully and completely when its members have had the financial means to do so..... If you're a homeowner it would be advisable to take steps to protect your home. Don't be surprised if you live in  an older home (built before 1933) and your neighbors tell you their house isn't bolted, or they don't know for sure -- just think about how an unbolted house can jump off the foundations.  If you can't pay for those repairs yourself, what are you going to do? Here is a link to brace and bolt grants.

Julia Huntsman, REALTOR, Broker | www.juliahuntsman.com | 562-896-2609 | California Lic. #01188996