Opinion: Now’s the time to quake-proof San Diego’s older homes

Earlier this year, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Julian was felt across San Diego County and as far as Orange County and Los Angeles. In 2010, a magnitude 7.2 quake near Mexicali caused stronger shaking and structural impacts in the Imperial Valley. In 2019, two large earthquakes in Ridgecrest were felt throughout Southern California. Among these recent earthquakes, widespread damage was not reported, but that luck will not last forever.

The San Diego region is home to several active fault systems. The Rose Canyon Fault runs beneath downtown and is capable of producing a magnitude 6.9 earthquake. It connects offshore with the Newport-Inglewood Fault, which also poses a threat to the region. To the east, the Elsinore and San Jacinto faults are among the most active in Southern California and have generated strong earthquakes in the past. Together, these fault systems create a real and ongoing risk for damaging earthquakes in the area.

San Diego County homeowners now have a rare opportunity to act. Now through Oct. 1, the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program, administered by the California Residential Mitigation Program, is accepting applications for a second 2025 registration period. Eligible homeowners can receive a grant of up to $3,000 to help pay for a seismic retrofit.

The program is designed specifically for homes built before 1980 with a raised foundation. A retrofit involves bolting the house to its foundation and bracing the crawl space walls, which can prevent costly and dangerous structural failure during an earthquake.

Income-qualified homeowners may also be eligible for a supplemental grant of up to $7,000, which can cover the full cost of the retrofit in many cases.

Thousands of homes across the county are at risk. According to U.S. census data, nearly 56% of San Diego County homes were built before 1980. Many are wood-frame houses with raised foundations and unbraced crawl space walls. These are the structures most vulnerable to earthquake damage. Without retrofits, they are far more likely to suffer severe damage in a major quake.

Earlier this year, nearly 19,000 homeowners applied for grants through the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program. That strong demand shows how many Californians recognize the risk and are ready to take action.

Since the program began in 2013, more than 32,500 California homeowners have completed a seismic retrofit through Earthquake Brace + Bolt. Each of those homes is now better prepared to withstand the next major earthquake. The program is available in more than 1,100 ZIP codes across the state.

This year, the program is expanding in a significant way. For the first time, non-owner-occupied properties are eligible. That means landlords and other residential property owners can now apply for grants to help protect rental homes. This change drastically increases the number of properties that can be strengthened and ensures more families across California, whether they own or rent, can benefit from added safety and stability.

For most people, their home is their largest financial asset. Protecting that investment is important, but more important is protecting the lives of the people inside. That includes families, renters, and neighbors. A retrofit can help keep people safe and homes standing when the next earthquake strikes.

If you own an older home with a raised foundation, now is the time to act. Visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com to see if your home qualifies. The website has information about how the program works and lists trained contractors in your area.

A large earthquake in San Diego is not a question of if, but when. A retrofit can reduce the risk of damage and give you more peace of mind. It is a smart step that protects your property and your community.

Maffei is chief mitigation officer for the California Earthquake Authority and executive director of the California Residential Mitigation Program.