You could get $3,000 to prepare for the next Big One

"Oakland homeowners can apply through October 1 for $3,000 to help their house survive the next earthquake. California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt program, established in 2013, has opened its annual grant application window for California residents who need support to retrofit their homes. Those accepted will be reimbursed up to $3,000 - or $7,000 for low-income households - toward the costs of an earthquake retrofit."

"Homeowner's insurance doesn't typically cover earthquake damage, and buying a separate earthquake policy can cost homeowners thousands of dollars a year on top of already spiking home insurance costs. That's why, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, only 10% of California homeowners have earthquake coverage - even though California experiences 90% of the nation's earthquakes."

"Multiple major earthquake faults cross the Bay Area. According to the UC Berkeley Seismology lab, the Hayward fault is the most dangerous, with a 32% chance of producing a 6.7 magnitude earthquake during the next 11 years. Overall, according to the lab, the Bay Area has a 63% chance of experiencing an earthquake of that magnitude over the same time period."

The Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant provides up to $3,000 per homeowner, and up to $7,000 for low-income households, to reimburse costs of earthquake retrofits. Eligible properties are wood-framed homes with crawlspaces built before 1980. The grant subsidizes bolting the foundation to the frame, adding plywood braces to cripple walls, and strapping the water heater. Oakland zip codes with high risk and many pre-1940 homes qualify for applications through October 1. More than 26,000 homeowners have received assistance, and applications now may include non-primary residences. California has low earthquake insurance uptake despite high seismic risk.

Read at The Oaklandside