How to prepare your home for an earthquake

Key takeaways

• Structural retrofitting is the most effective way to protect your home from earthquake damage.
• Most earthquake injuries are caused by falling objects, and securing furniture and appliances is a DIY project that takes one afternoon.
• Standard homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage, and most Americans in seismic zones do not carry a separate earthquake policy.

Earthquakes happen without warning. You cannot predict when one will occur, but you can take steps to reduce the damage it causes to your home and belongings. Preparation falls into two categories: structural work that protects the building itself, and non-structural measures that secure the objects inside it. Both matter.

The most high-risk areas of the U.S. for seismic activity are states bordering the Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. California has the highest seismic activity because of the San Andreas Fault.

There's a moderate risk of earthquakes in the central U.S., the USGS said. The New Madrid Seismic Zone runs through Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. While there are fewer earthquakes compared to the Pacific Coast, the zone has resulted in some of the most powerful earthquakes in the U.S., it said. The 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes caused widespread destruction and actually reversed the flow of the Mississippi River, it said.

There are few earthquakes on the Atlantic coast, the USGS said. But they can occur, as in 2011 when an earthquake in Virginia damaged the Washington Monument.

Here are some tips to help you reduce your risk.

The most important preparation is making sure your home can stay on its foundation during ground shaking. This is especially relevant for older homes. Building codes in seismic zones have improved significantly over the decades, but homes built before the 1980s often lack modern seismic reinforcement.

Foundation bolting. This is one of the most common and cost-effective retrofit measures. Anchor bolts and metal brackets connect the wooden frame of the house securely to the concrete foundation. This prevents the house from sliding or overturning off its base during an earthquake. Older homes often lack this connection, making them especially vulnerable.

Cripple wall bracing. Cripple walls are the short wood-framed walls between the foundation and the first floor in homes with crawl spaces and act as a base. Without bracing, these walls can fold during shaking, causing the house to drop and shift off its foundation.

Soft-story retrofitting. Homes with living spaces above garages or first floors with large openings need soft-story retrofitting. This is required by law in many cities. The open first floor lacks the rigidity to resist lateral forces, and steel frames or reinforced walls are added to compensate.

Chimney reinforcement. Masonry chimneys are prone to collapse because of their brittle nature. Retrofitting involves securing chimneys with steel straps and braces or replacing them with lighter alternatives. This reduces the risk of injury from falling bricks.

Roof strengthening. During an earthquake, you don't want roofing materials that weigh a lot or are prone to breaking, said Andre Kazimierski, co-owner and president of HomeHero Roofing in Brookfield, Illinois.

"We generally advise against choices like clay tiles or concrete for homes in earthquake-prone areas for that reason," he said. "These materials, due to their weight and construction, make your roof more likely to cave in or suffer damage when an earthquake happens. If you instead have a lighter, more durable roofing material like asphalt shingles, the state of your roof during an earthquake becomes less of a concern."

There are additional measures homeowners can take, said Philip Farina, founder of Risky Business, a Miami, Florida-based risk and security management consulting firm. They include:

• Trim or remove trees and heavy foliage around a property so they can’t fall on your home  
• Repair cracked masonry and foundations 

Costs for retrofitting vary based on home size, age, location and the type of retrofit needed. The average cost is around $6,000 as of 2026, according to Angi, with most projects ranging from about $3,500 to $8,700, it said.

Some states and cities offer financial assistance. California's Brace + Bolt program provides up to $3,000 for foundation bolting and cripple wall bracing in high-risk ZIP codes. Up to an additional $7,000 is available to households with an income below $89,040.

To qualify, the home must be built before 1980, must have a wood frame and must be built over a foundation. Over 32,500 California homeowners have received grant assistance for retrofitting their homes against earthquake damage, the California Earthquake Authority said in 2025.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency also provides grants to help communities prepare for earthquakes. FEMA’s Individual State Earthquake Assistance fund made $2.3 million available in fiscal year 2026 to states and territories with a high to very high risk of seismic activity. FEMA’s Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance fund made more than $1.5 million available to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Structural retrofitting should be done by a licensed contractor with seismic experience. A structural engineer can assess your home's specific vulnerabilities and recommend a plan.

Securing heavy furniture, appliances and fixtures is something most homeowners can do in an afternoon with basic tools and inexpensive hardware.

Anchor tall furniture to wall studs. Bookcases, dressers, entertainment centers and shelving units can topple during shaking. L-brackets are ideal for rigid attachment of solid wood furniture to wall studs. Flexible furniture straps allow for some movement while preventing tipping, making them a good choice for top-heavy items.

Strap the water heater. This prevents it from tipping over and breaking water or gas lines, and it preserves a vital source of emergency drinking water.

Use two metal straps, one on the upper third and one on the lower third, secured to wall studs. This takes about 30 minutes and costs $15 to $30.

Install latches on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Positive-catch latches on cabinet doors prevent heavy pots and glassware from flying out. This takes one to two hours and costs $20 to $40 for a full kitchen.

Secure appliances. Use anti-tip brackets on your refrigerator, stove and television sets. Ensure gas appliances are fitted with flexible gas line connectors. These connectors bend rather than break during an earthquake.

Protect smaller valuables. Museum putty or wax is ideal for securing smaller collectibles, vases and electronics to shelves and tabletops.

For framed artwork and mirrors, use closed hooks rather than open ones so they cannot bounce off the wall during shaking. Do not hang heavy frames or shelves directly over beds or seating areas.

The total cost for these DIY measures is roughly $60 to $125 and takes two to four hours.

Bedrooms

• Move beds away from windows and heavy wall hangings 
• Secure tall dressers and mirrors to wall studs 
• Keep a flashlight and shoes next to the bed 
• Avoid placing heavy items on high shelves above the bed 

Kitchen

• Install latches on all cabinets 
• Store heavy items on lower shelves 
• Secure the refrigerator and stove with anti-tip brackets 
• Know how to shut off the gas line and keep a wrench nearby 

Living areas

• Anchor bookcases, entertainment centers and televisions 
• Use earthquake-resistant TV mounts 
• Hang heavy pictures with closed hooks 
• Identify safe spots, such as under a sturdy table, for drop, cover and hold on 

Garage and utility areas

• Strap the water heater with two metal bands 
• Use flexible gas and water line connections 
• Store flammable liquids on the floor or low shelves 
• Keep an emergency shutoff wrench accessible 

Structural damage and water from broken pipes can destroy paperwork, photographs and heirlooms. Take steps now to protect items you cannot replace.

• Store important documents in a fireproof, waterproof safe. This includes property deeds, insurance policies, birth certificates, passports and financial records. 
• Keep digital copies. Scan or photograph important documents and store them in a secure cloud service or on an encrypted external drive kept off-site. 

Photograph your belongings. Walk through every room and record video or photographs of furniture, electronics, artwork and other valuables. This documentation is essential for insurance claims. Store it in the cloud so it is accessible even if the home is damaged. 

Consider a safe deposit box. For items like original wills, titles and irreplaceable family documents, a safe deposit box at a bank provides off-site protection. 

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover damage resulting from land movement or landslides. Earthquake damage requires a separate policy or endorsement.

Almost three-quarters of Americans are at risk for damage from an earthquake, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Geological Survey. Yet coverage rates are low. Despite experiencing 90% of the country's earthquakes, only 10% of California's residents have earthquake insurance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Whether earthquake insurance makes sense depends on your location, the age and construction of your home, and what you could afford to pay out of pocket if a major event occurred. Contact your insurance agent to discuss options and costs specific to your area.

Preparation extends beyond the house itself. Make sure everyone in the household knows what to do during and after an earthquake.

• Practice drop, cover and hold on. Get under a sturdy piece of furniture, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops. 
• Know your shutoffs. Learn how to turn off the gas, water and electricity. Keep the necessary tools nearby. 
• Prepare an emergency kit. Include water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days), non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, medications, a battery-powered radio and copies of important documents. 
• Establish a communication plan. Choose an out-of-area contact everyone can check in with if local phone lines are overwhelmed. 

Take steps to protect yourself, said Farina.

• Drop to the ground and take cover by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture, he said. Do not let go until the shaking stops. If you’re not next to anything you can duck under, cover your face and head with your arms and ball up in a corner of your home, he said. Grab a pillow to cover your head.  
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture, he said. 
• Use a doorway in your home for shelter only if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway. 
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside.