By Janiele Maffei

We live in earthquake country, where seismic activity is a constant reminder that earthquakes are unpredictable and can strike at any time. On December 5, 2024, this harsh reality hit home when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of California near Cape Mendocino. For certain, personal safety in an earthquake is paramount. However, earthquakes also underscore the need for homeowners to take protective measures to protect their homes.

Much of the North Coast, including Humboldt County, faces significant earthquake risk, sitting along three major fault lines: the San Andreas Fault, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and the Mendocino Fault. The grinding and shifting of these tectonic plates are a stark reminder that the threat of a powerful earthquake is ever-present.

While this reality may seem daunting, there’s no better time to prepare than now. And what better moment to start than the New Year? Eureka residents, make it your New Year’s resolution to fortify your home against earthquakes. A simple retrofit that bolts your home to its foundation can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic damage, offering peace of mind and safety for your family while protecting your investment.

From Jan. 15 through March 26, the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) will open registration for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) grant program. This initiative provides critical support to homeowners in over 1,118 zip codes. For qualifying, income-eligible households earning $89,040 or less annually, the program will provide the base $3,000 grant plus an additional grant based on your location and the type of retrofit completed. For many, the supplemental grant will provide 100% of the cost of the seismic retrofit. These funds help secure homes to their foundations and brace crawl space walls, essential measures to withstand the forces of an earthquake.

History has shown how devastating nearby large earthquakes can be for a community and its residents. Humboldt residents were fortunate that the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Dec. 5, 2024, caused no major structural damage or fatalities, but that isn’t always the case. On Dec. 21, 2022, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the same area, causing widespread structural damage and resulting in two fatalities. According to the California Earthquake Authority, there’s a 99% chance that a major earthquake will strike California within the next 30 years — about the length of a typical mortgage.

Strengthening homes through seismic retrofits not only protects individual families but also reduces the strain on communities during and after earthquakes, enhancing overall public safety and resilience. Since its launch in 2013, the EBB program has helped more than 29,000 California homeowners fortify their homes, including retrofitting 186 homes in Humboldt County. This demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in minimizing earthquake damage and promoting safer, stronger communities.

Homeowners are encouraged to apply for these grants and will have until March 26, when the registration window closes. Continue 2025 with peace of mind, and be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to protect your home and family from the unpredictability of earthquakes.

Janiele Maffei is a resident of Piedmont and a structural engineer and chief mitigation officer for the California Earthquake Authority.