LUCKY homeowners are slated to receive $3,000 payments to spend on house upgrades as the second phase of a unique lottery system begins.
The state program has officially opened up its annual lottery again, accepting applications through October 1 for a shot at winning the disaster relief cash.
Select homeowners will be handed $3,000 payments to help upgrade their homes[/caption]
The disaster relief cash will be distributed under a longstanding state-run lottery program[/caption]
Earthquake damage to homes ranges from superficial cracks to total structural collapse and can run homeowners a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands.
Retrofitting your home for an earthquake helps to strengthen the structure and minimize damage and costly repairs, potentially saving you a chunk of change when the next natural disaster strikes.
California is one of the most earthquake-prone states in the country, with the state’s Earthquake Brace + Bolt program launched in 2013 to help residents retrofit their houses to limit damage when the next earthquake hits.
Run by the California Residential Mitigation Program, or CRMP, the state program has since helped over 30,000 homeowners.
CRMP is officially launching a second registration phase in the wake of the successful enrollment of almost 19,000 residents during the January registration period.
It opened up its yearly lottery for Californians on August 20, with homeowners now able to apply for a shot at $3,000 toward the costs of an earthquake retrofit through October 1.
Over $20 million in grant funding will be up for grabs to help residents offset the cost of prepping their homes for natural disaster.
Up to $7,000 in supplemental grants are also available for Californians with an income of $89,040 or less.
The program is administered by CRMP, a Joint Powers Authority between the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
“Offering a second registration period this year is a valuable opportunity in helping us meet the strong demand we’ve seen for earthquake retrofit assistance,” said Janiele Maffei, chief mitigation officer of CEA.
“Retrofitting is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of severe damage in a major quake, protecting both residents and the communities they call home.”
Applicants who do not win the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program lottery this round will be placed on an active wait list.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
Homeowners must meet certain criteria in order to receive a payment from the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program.
First, the cash is available to California residents who have wood-framed homes with crawlspaces that were constructed prior to 1980.
Earthquake Brace + Bolt program: supplemental grant
Combined with the $3,000 stipend from California’s Earthquake Brace + Bolt program, the additional funding will provide most eligible homeowners grants that may cover up to 100% of their retrofit costs.
The grant amount that a homeowner receives may vary based on the average cost of a completed retrofit in their area.
The maximum amounts of the supplemental grants, after the $3,000 Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant, are:
- Northern California Bolt Only: $2,800
- Northern California Brace + Bolt: $7,000
- Southern California Bolt Only: $1,125
- Southern California Brace + Bolt: $2,650
The program subsidizes the cost of three key upgrades that can limit the damage caused by an earthquake.
These include bolting the foundation to the home’s frame, adding plywood braces to the cripple walls in the crawl space, and strapping the water heater into place.
The disaster proofing program is available for homes in over 1,100 select ZIP Codes, including 303 added earlier this year, determined by earthquake hazard and earthquake vulnerability ratings.
Additionally, applicants’ homes must not have an existing qualifying retrofit already in place.
For the first time, the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program is allowing landlords and other property owners to apply for assistance for a property that is not their primary residence.
“Earthquake retrofits create a safer and more resilient California. Expanding retrofit grants to rental properties means CRMP will provide even greater protection for California’s housing stock and the families who call these properties ‘home,’” said Tom Welsh, CEO of the CEA.
“Each retrofit brings us one step closer to a better-prepared California.”
Other state programs are handing out free money to lend residents a helping hand.
A new “first-of-its-kind” program, for example, is handing out $850 monthly payments.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans are getting free help paying their energy bills – four states are bailing residents out with savings up to $2,400.
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