California Seismic Safety Institute

04/22/2025

You maybe didn’t feel it... But your house did!
In the past 10 years, San Jose has had over 90 earthquakes measuring 4.0 or higher!

And here’s what most homeowners don’t know:
🔹 A 4.0 quake is strong enough to shift your foundation.
🔹 Anything over a 2.0 has the potential to damage your home.
🔹 Damage can build up silently—over time.
🔹 You may not see the signs… but they’re there.

Cracks, warped doors, moisture where it shouldn’t be… small things that eventually become big repair bills—or worse, a collapse when the next big one hits.

That’s why the California Seismic Safety Institute is offering a limited number of $2,000 grants for qualified homeowners in San Jose and surrounding areas.

💥 Use the grant to cover the cost of a professional seismic inspection (normally $500) and still have money left to start repairs or retrofitting.
👉 You may not feel the damage—but you will feel the regret.

Click below to take our 1-minute Home Safety Survey and find out if you qualify.

https://cssisafetycheck.org/takesurvey

04/16/2025

💥 Did you feel that shake? San Diego sure did—yesterday’s quake wasn’t massive, but it was enough to make your house raise an eyebrow... if it had one.

Most people think if it’s not a 6.0 or higher, everything’s fine. But the truth is, even smaller quakes can cause issues—especially if: 🔹 You were close to the epicenter
🔹 Your soil is soft
🔹 Your home is older
🔹 Or your house already had “a little personality”

Here’s what to check for:
📏 New cracks in the walls, ceiling, or foundation
🚪 Doors or windows that suddenly stick
🧱 Brick or chimney movement
👀 That “hmm” feeling that something’s off

⚠️ And if your home was built before 1980?
Those vintage vibes come with a catch: seismic building codes didn’t get serious until the '80s. Older homes without retrofits are more vulnerable to even moderate shaking.

Think of it like this: new homes are built to sway. Older ones? Not so much. (It’s like watching someone try to salsa in a pair of tight jeans. Something’s gonna give.)

That’s why we created a quick, simple tool for homeowners to report what they’re seeing after quakes:

👉 CSSISafetyCheck.org/inspection

It takes less than a minute. It helps us spot damage trends. It helps you stay safer.

And honestly? It just feels good to do something proactive when the ground's acting up.

Let’s make California safer—together. Check your space. Trust your gut. And if your house whispered “ouch” during that last shake… we want to hear about it.

before it wrecks your house...

***If no: "That’s something we highly recommend checking because it’s not only a safety measure, it’s also required in many cases to comply with current codes."

04/09/2025

You maybe didn’t feel it... But your house did.

In the past 10 years, San Jose has had over 90 earthquakes measuring 4.0 or higher!

And here’s what most homeowners don’t know:

🔹 A 4.0 quake is strong enough to shift your foundation.

🔹 Damage can build up silently—over time.

🔹 You may not see the signs… but they’re there.

Cracks, warped doors, moisture where it shouldn’t be… small things that eventually become big repair bills—or worse, a collapse when the next big one hits.

That’s why the California Seismic Safety Institute is offering a limited number of $2,000 grants for qualified homeowners in San Jose and surrounding areas.

💥 Use the grant to cover the cost of a professional seismic inspection (normally $500) and still have money left to start repairs or retrofitting.

👉 You may not feel the damage—but you will feel the regret.

Click below to take our 1-minute Home Safety Survey and find out if you qualify.

🔗CSSISafetyCheck.org/Inspection

***If no: "That’s something we highly recommend checking because it’s not only a safety measure, it’s also required in many cases to comply with current codes."

04/04/2025

🔍 Just a Little Shake? Think Again. 🌍💥

Did you know a 2.8 earthquake—yes, even one that tiny—can quietly cause damage to your home?

Not the dramatic kind you see in movies... the kind that hides.

⚠️ A shifted beam here.

⚠️ A loosened pipe there.

⚠️ A crack you don’t see until it spreads.

And when the next big one hits (because it’s not an “if,” it’s a “when” here in Southern California —those little unseen problems?
They turn into BIG expensive problems.

🛠️ Getting your home inspected and reinforced now can save you thousands later. Peace of mind? Priceless.

This isn’t about fear—it’s about being smart.
You wouldn’t ignore a leak, right? Don’t ignore a quake.

Check your home. Catch the cracks. Reinforce what matters.
Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.

Comment SURVEY to take our free earthquake preparedness survey.

04/02/2025

Do you have a raised foundation on your Southern California home? If so, have you done a Raised Foundation House Retrofit?

We highly recommend you do, before the next big shake!

A house with a raised foundation has an area underneath the first floor, which is referred to as a crawl space. The first floor in a raised foundation house may be supported by:

A continuous foundation where the wood floor is supported directly on concrete stem walls,

A continuous foundation where the wood floor is supported on short, wood-framed walls that extend from the concrete foundation to the bottom of the first floor, or

A continuous foundation with both stem walls and cripple walls.

Note: Industry professionals use the term “cripple wall” to define "crawl space walls." These types of walls are short OR less-than-full-height wood stud walls that surround the crawlspace under your first floor.

If you're not sure if you need to shore up your house for the next big shake, take our helpful earthquake safety survey at: CSSISafetyCheck.org and find out! Free safety inspections available for select Southern California homeowners.

03/31/2025

🚨 Did You Feel the Earthquake?

Your home might not be safe for the next big one.

Take this FREE 60-second Self-Assessment Survey to check your earthquake risk and find out if you need a professional inspection.

Don’t wait until it’s too late—act now!
👉 Click Here to Take the FREE Self Survey

Https://cssisafetycheck.org/inspection

***If no: "That’s something we highly recommend checking because it’s not only a safety measure, it’s also required in many cases to comply with current codes."

03/24/2025

🏚️ Southern California Homes Built Before 1980—Are You Sitting on a Seismic Time Bomb?

If your home was built before 1980, it wasn’t designed for the powerful earthquakes we see today. You might not see the cracks forming in your foundation, but the next big shake will reveal them. You won’t hear the slow weakening of your walls—until it’s too late. You won’t feel the hidden damage beneath your feet—until the ground violently reminds you.

🔎 Here are 5 MAJOR earthquake dangers in older homes:
1️⃣ Weak Foundations – Small shifts weaken your home over time. One strong quake can break it apart.
2️⃣ Unsecured Water Heaters & Gas Lines – A sudden jolt can lead to gas leaks or fires.
3️⃣ Unreinforced Masonry Walls – Older brick and stonework can crumble in seconds.
4️⃣ Soft-Story Structures – If you have a garage or open lower level, your home could collapse under its own weight.
5️⃣ Aging, Non-Flexible Materials – Brittle pipes and outdated wiring can fail under stress, causing flooding and electrical fires.

Your home could be one shake away from major damage—will your insurance cover it? Find out now!

✅ Take our quick Seismic Safety Survey at CSSIsafetycheck.org/inspection

🏠 See if your home qualifies for a FREE inspection

💰 You may be eligible for a $2,000 grant for safety upgrades

Don’t wait for disaster to strike—protect your home and your loved ones NOW.



YES That is 47 EARTHQUAKES in a week in this one small area in the graphic

03/17/2025

🚨 Did You Feel the Earthquake Yesterday? 🚨
Your home might not be safe for the next big one.

Take this FREE 60-second Self-Assessment Survey to check your earthquake risk and find out if you need a professional inspection.

Don’t wait until it’s too late—act now!
👉 Click Here to Take the FREE Self Survey

Https://cssisafetycheck.org/inspection

03/11/2025

🚨 Is Your Southern California Home Ready for the Next Big Quake? 🚨

The ground is shaking—5 earthquakes in just 2 days. The next one could be bigger. Will your home stand strong, or are unseen foundation issues putting you at risk? Most homeowners don’t realize their insurance may NOT cover structural damage if their home isn’t up to code!

✅ Take our quick Seismic Safety Survey today!
📍 Find out if you're in one of our Inspection Zones
🏠 Get a FREE home inspection to uncover hidden risks
💰 See if you qualify for our $2,000 grant for earthquake safety upgrades

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Click here to get started: CSSIsafetycheck.org