FEMA GRANTS $1.2M TO CEA TO INCREASE EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION [https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210318/fema-grants-12m-cea-increase-earthquake-protection] Release Date: Décembre 10, 2019 Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $1.2 million to the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) for its Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program. The grant will subsidize CEA earthquake retrofits for 391 at-risk structures likely to shake from their foundations in the event of an earthquake. EBB addresses two seismic vulnerabilities found in many older homes that may have short, wood-framed cripple walls under the first floor. The retrofit bolts the house to the foundation, and if short, wood-framed walls are present under the first floor, the retrofit braces those walls with plywood to stiffen and help prevent the house from collapsing or sliding off its foundation during a quake. EBB is a code-compliant retrofit that helps reduce damage and should allow families to remain in their homes after earthquakes. Each EBB recipient receives a subsidy of up to $3,000 to bring their home up to seismic code compliance. The $2.1 million project will be funded by a $1.2 million hazard mitigation grant from FEMA, with CEA and homeowners contributing the $940,000 balance. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps states, territories, federally-recognized tribes, local communities and certain private, non-profit organizations become more resilient to potential infrastructure damage and reduce future disaster costs. In the past 30 years, FEMA has invested nearly $1.3 billion to reduce disaster risks in California. ###   FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region IX online at twitter.com/femaregion9 [http://www.twitter.com/femaregion9] or view more news releases at fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix [https://www.fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix].