Building Stronger, Safer Earthquake-Resistant Homes
Finding the Right Solution for Strengthening Your Home
When it comes to resilience during a major earthquake, some homes perform better than others. This largely has to do with when a structure was built — more specifically due to the building standards at the time of its construction. Homes built before 1985, for example, and particularly those built on raised foundations, can be especially susceptible to earthquake damage.
Fortunately, advances in structural engineering, lessons learned from past earthquakes and scientific research have paved the way for construction techniques that better equip homes to withstand a seismic event. And local and regional building codes now require all new houses in seismically vulnerable regions to meet higher construction and safety standards.
If you live in an older home, there are steps you can take to strengthen it. Our resources are here to help you evaluate your home’s resilience and safeguard against earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Watch Our Videos on Earthquake-Resistant Homes
Earthquake Preparation and Safety
Seismic Retrofit Guide
A seismic retrofit guide for homes with raised foundations. This guide helps homeowners understand how to inspect, evaluate and perform basic retrofit construction using Simpson Strong-Tie products.
Seismic Retrofit Detail Sheet
This 24x36 plan set calls out the specific retrofit solutions for reinforcing a home's cripple wall and foundation connection. (Based on the 2021 International Existing Building Code.)
Earthquake Preparation and Retrofit Infographic
Steps to ensure your home and family are prepared for an earthquake.
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills/Preparedness
Experts agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.
Build Strong for Earthquakes Infographic
Tips for retrofitting your home to make it stronger in an earthquake.
Find Retrofit Permit Requirements in Your Region
Key Seismic Retrofit Resources
Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) was developed to help homeowners lessen the potential for damage to their houses during an earthquake.
California Earthquake Authority (CEA) promotes and supports earthquake preparedness to Californians across the state.
CREW works to improve mitigation of earthquake effects on communities within the Cascadia region.
Check your risk—find insurance, retrofit, and data solutions for your earthquake, flood, wildfire, liquefaction, landslide, and tsunami risks.
Have earthquake information at your fingertips, see damage reports shared by citizen scientists like you, help build a global seismic network.
More Articles on Creating a Safe Strong Home
We invite you to learn more about earthquakes, how they affect your home and what you can do to increase your home’s earthquake resistance.
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