FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill is here!
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) will be among the millions participating in this year’s Great California ShakeOut drill.
ShakeOut day is October 17 at 10:17 a.m.
The one-minute-long annual drill is always held on the third Thursday of October.
It is a reminder that California is earthquake country and that we all need to get prepared for a seismic event.
From ShakeOut’s beginning in 2008, CEA has been a proud partner in bringing this earthquake preparation drill to Californians.
According to ShakeOut.org, 10.1 million people across the state are expected to participate this year.
CEA believes that many Californians could better protect their older homes by strengthening them with a seismic retrofit so that the homes can better withstand a damaging earthquake.
Millions of residents, many in underserved neighborhoods, live in older houses that need to be strengthened to make them more resistant to earthquake damage.
Grants of up to $13000 are now available to help California residents strengthen their homes against a specific type of earthquake vulnerability called a soft-story vulnerability -a home that has a living area on a floor above a large open space like garage.
These grants are given through a program which is jointly administered by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
To date more than 27,000 homeowners have received seismic retrofit grants.
“As we practice the safety steps to take during an earthquake, it is also important to think about other steps we can take before an earthquake to help protect our family,” said Charlotte Fadipe, Chief Communications Officer of the California Earthquake Authority.
“Consider making your older home less vulnerable to damage with a seismic retrofit. Strengthening your home against earthquake damage can make a big difference. The best part is that grants are now available to help some homeowners pay for the retrofit.
Check out earthquakesoftstory.com to find out more. And talk to your agent to see if earthquake insurance is a good option for your family.
