When we think about natural disasters and their potential to damage our homes, massive hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods may come to mind. Severe weather events are becoming ever more frequent due to global warming. Because of this, natural disasters around the world accounted for an estimated U.S. $153.9 billion in economic losses in 2016 alone. Here at Rise, we have written about how to protect your home from floods and wildfires. We offer advice for creating a more resilient home, prepared to withstand all types of severe weather events.

If you live near a fault line, however, the risk for a potentially catastrophic earthquake is a constant danger that needs consideration. One study estimates that about half of all Americans live in an area affected by damaging earthquakes. Almost one out of every five households, or close to 60 million people, live in the regions considered "moderate" hazard zones for earthquakes. Despite the underlying hazard that earthquakes represent, there are several things that homeowners can do to prepare their homes for a potential quake. Below, we offer a complete "earthquake-readiness" checklist to help homeowners secure and protect their homes.

Some Statistical Considerations 

In early July of this year (2019), the state of California experienced its most massive earthquake of the past two decades. The 7.1 magnitude quake, fortunately, didn't cause any casualties, but economic damages amounted to over 100 million dollars. Aftershocks from this earthquake continue to affect the area for many months.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimate, economic losses from earthquakes add up to an estimated 4.4 billion dollars a year. Because medium to large earthquakes can permanently damage the structural integrity of a building, many homes must be completely torn down and rebuilt in the event of significant damage.