California homeowner guide

Main water shutoff and earthquake preparedness

Know both the curb stop at the street and the interior main shutoff. An earthquake will break pipes; shutoff knowledge is essential. PG&E, SoCalGas, SoCal Edison, SDG&E: know your gas and electric utility and their emergency numbers. SoCalGas emergency: 1-800-427-2200. PG&E gas emergency: 1-800-743-5000.

Defensible space assessment

If you are in any Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zone in California (including suburban areas of LA, the North Bay, Foothill communities statewide, and forested communities), assess defensible space at move-in. CAL FIRE publishes Your Zone, Your Plan resources. California fire insurance is actively being dropped by insurers; defensible space maintenance affects insurability.

Seismic shutoff valve (gas)

California has seismic gas shutoff valves (excess flow or motion-activated) that automatically close when an earthquake occurs. Many California cities require them. If your home doesn't have one, consider installation; it prevents gas fires that start from broken lines after an earthquake without requiring manual action.

Defensible space maintenance

California law (PRC 4291) requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures in fire hazard zones. This is active maintenance; grasses dry in summer and require mowing regularly. Zone 1 (0-30 ft): essentially non-combustible. Zone 2 (30-100 ft): spaced, thinned vegetation with no ladder fuels.

Earthquake preparedness maintenance

Quarterly: check emergency supply kit (rotate food and water), verify fire extinguisher is charged, check that heavy furniture is still anchored. The 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes demonstrated that even 'minor' California earthquakes cause catastrophic losses to unprepared homes.

Roof and drainage inspection after rain season

California's rainy season ends in May. Inspect the roof for damage from rain events, clear debris from drains and gutters, and repair any caulking or flashing damaged over winter. Coastal salt air communities: inspect for metal fastener corrosion.

Pro recommended: Licensed Roofer

Wildfire prep before summer

By May 1: Zone 1 vegetation reduced, roof and gutters cleared of debris, vents screened with metal mesh, ember-resistant vent covers installed if not already, go-bag prepared.

Fire weather protocol

Red Flag Warnings in California require zero outdoor burning, careful use of power equipment (sparks start fires), and monitoring of CAL FIRE active incident maps. In extreme fire weather: park vehicles on pavement, not on dry grass. Know your evacuation route and have a go-bag ready to pick up in 5 minutes.

Santa Ana wind season (Southern California)

Santa Ana winds (October to December primarily, but possible year-round) bring extremely low humidity and high winds to Southern California. These conditions have driven the Woolsey Fire, Thomas Fire, Camp Fire, and countless others. When a Red Flag Warning is issued: prepare to evacuate if in interface areas. Don't wait for a warning order.

Post-fire mudslide risk

Areas burned in the previous fire season have extremely high mudslide risk in the first heavy rain event. The 2018 Montecito mudslide (post-Thomas Fire) killed 23 people. If you live in or downstream of a recent burn scar: pre-plan evacuation from heavy rain events.

Drainage and erosion management

California's steep terrain and heavy winter rainfall cause erosion and drainage problems. Inspect all drainage outlets after winter storms. Clear debris from culverts, drains, and outlets.

The four most important hardening measures

1. Class A fire-resistant roofing (embers land on roofs; wood shake roofs are the leading cause of structure-to-structure fire spread). 2. Ember-resistant vents (1/8-inch metal mesh on all foundation, attic, and soffit vents). 3. Multi-pane windows (single-pane windows fail from radiant heat before fire arrives). 4. Non-combustible Zone 1 (no wood decking, no combustible furniture, no wood fencing connecting to the structure within 5 feet).

Home hardening affects insurability

California insurers are exiting the market. IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation and home hardening documentation through your insurer may be required for coverage renewal. Contact your county's local assistance center for home hardening assessment resources.

Soft-story and cripple wall retrofitting

Pre-1980 California homes often have unbraced cripple walls (short wood-framed walls between the foundation and first floor) that collapse in earthquakes, dropping the house. Retrofit with structural plywood sheathing; typically costs $3,000-$7,000 and is required for many soft-story apartment buildings under city ordinances. FEMA Brace + Bolt program provides financial assistance.

Pro recommended: Licensed Structural Engineer

Pre-evacuation preparation, before a fire starts

When a Red Flag Warning is issued for your area: move patio furniture inside, push combustibles away from the house, connect garden hoses, close all windows and doors, and load the car. This pre-evacuation takes 30-45 minutes. Do it before orders are issued, not after.

Warning order response

California uses: Evacuation Warning (leave if possible; must leave if you need assistance) and Evacuation Order (mandatory: leave immediately). Leave at a Warning in fire conditions; by the time an Order is issued, roads are often gridlocked. Take your go-bag, pets, medications, documents, and phone charger.

ShakeAlert and drop-cover-hold

California has ShakeAlert early warning; you may get 5-60 seconds of warning before shaking arrives. If you feel shaking or receive an alert: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. After: check for gas smell, structural damage, and injuries.

Leave at Warning, not Order

Leave when a Warning is issued in fire conditions. The Camp Fire (Paradise, 2018) showed that by the time an Order is issued, roads are gridlocked. Go to your pre-planned destination, not toward the fire. Notify someone outside the area that you've evacuated and your location.

Drop, Cover, Hold On, then immediate gas check

During shaking: drop, cover, hold on. After: smell for gas immediately. If detected: everyone out, leave door open, call 911 from outside, call your gas utility. Do not re-enter buildings with visible structural damage. Check on neighbors.

Post-earthquake pipe failure response

Post-earthquake: shut off water at the main (inside) and the curb stop (street-side with utility wrench). Open all faucets to drain remaining pressure. Do not use plumbing until it's confirmed that sewer lines are intact; sewage backup after an earthquake is common.

Mudslide and flood inflow response

Most California homes lack basements. Flooding and mudslides enter at grade. Do not enter flooded spaces with submerged electrical equipment. Call PG&E (1-800-743-5000), SoCal Edison (1-800-611-1911), or SDG&E (1-800-411-7343) to disconnect at the meter. Move to higher ground immediately.

PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) and storm outages

PG&E, SoCal Edison, and SDG&E conduct preemptive power shutoffs (PSPS) during extreme fire weather. Register with your utility for PSPS alerts. Have 5-7 days of supplies for potential PSPS periods. PG&E: 1-800-743-5000. SoCal Edison: 1-800-611-1911. SDG&E: 1-800-411-7343. Generator outside only, 20+ feet from any window or door.

Post-earthquake gas leak response

Rotten egg or sulfur smell after an earthquake (or anytime): everyone out immediately. Leave door open. Call 911. PG&E gas emergency: 1-800-743-5000. SoCalGas: 1-800-427-2200. SDG&E: 1-800-411-7343. Do not re-enter until the utility and emergency personnel clear the building.

Two exits, go-bag staged, never re-enter

Two ways out of every room. In interface communities: have a go-bag by the door at all times during fire season. Designate an outdoor meeting place. Crawl under smoke. Call 911. Never re-enter; in an active fire-weather event, a house fire can expand to a wildfire in minutes.

California vessel registration (DMV)

Motorized vessels operated on California waters must be registered with the California DMV, not CDFW. The registration number (CF + numbers + letters) must be displayed on both sides of the bow. Non-motorized vessels over 8 feet (including kayaks and canoes used on certain waters) may also require registration. Carry the registration card on board at all times.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspection, mandatory at many ramps

California's AIS program is one of the strictest in the western US. Many California water bodies require mandatory vessel inspection and decontamination before launch, particularly Lake Tahoe, Lake Davis, Shasta Lake, Folsom Lake, and other high-priority waters. Inspection stations are at or near launch ramps for covered waters. Clean, Drain, and Dry (CDD) is required statewide: clean all visible plant material from the vessel, drain all water from the bilge, live well, and motor before leaving a water body, and dry the vessel for five or more days if possible before launching in a different water body. Quagga and zebra mussels can survive days in residual bilge and live well water.

Boating education

California does not yet require a boating education certificate for most recreational operators, but the California Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) recommends completing a NASBLA-approved course. DBW-certified courses are available free online through BoatUS Foundation and other providers. Insurance discounts are often available for certificate holders.

Post-use freshwater flush after every coastal outing

Pacific coastal and bay waters are full ocean or near-ocean salinity. Flush the engine with fresh water after every salt-water outing: outboard and I/O via flush muffs or built-in flush port, inboard via intake hose in a fresh water bucket. Do this immediately after returning to dock while the engine is still warm. The warm raw-water circuit accepts fresh water more readily and flushes salt more completely than a cold system.

Anode inspection for coastal boats

Pacific coastal and bay water is cold (Northern California) to moderate (Southern California) but full ocean salinity; anode consumption is faster than in fresh water. Inspect all anodes (lower unit, transom brackets, shaft, hull) every 2-3 months of active salt-water use. Use zinc anodes for Pacific coastal waters; aluminum for San Francisco Bay and Delta (mixed salinity) environments. Never use magnesium anodes in any California salt or brackish water.

NOAA marine weather and bar crossings

Pacific coastal conditions can change rapidly. Monitor NOAA VHF weather radio (WX1-WX7) before every offshore or coastal outing. Northern California coastal bars (Humboldt, Coos Bay, and similar) are among the most dangerous in North America during rough weather; waves breaking in shallow water at bar crossings can capsize or swamp vessels. Check NOAA tide and swell forecasts (tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov) before any coastal outing beyond a protected bay. Do not attempt bar crossings in unfamiliar conditions or when wave heights exceed the vessel's safe operating limit.

San Francisco Bay: tidal currents and shipping channels

San Francisco Bay has some of the strongest tidal currents on the West Coast, up to 4-5 knots at peak ebb and flood near the Golden Gate. Plan Bay crossings around the tide table. The shipping channel carries large commercial vessels that have right-of-way and cannot maneuver. Cross promptly at 90 degrees and monitor VHF Channel 14 (VTS San Francisco) when transiting the main shipping lane. Summer Bay fog can drop visibility to near zero with no warning.

Bottom paint for boats kept in coastal water

Coastal and bay boats kept in the water between outings require antifouling bottom paint; biological fouling in California coastal and bay waters is significant. Consult your local boatyard for appropriate paint type for your specific water. San Francisco Bay has specific environmental regulations on antifouling paint compounds. Confirm your paint choice is EPA-registered and allowed in California bay waters.

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: AIS and tidal variation

The Delta is the largest estuarine tidal wetland on the West Coast and has both freshwater and brackish zones depending on tide and seasonal flows. AIS inspection is required before launching. Delta water levels vary with tidal cycles; shallow-draft areas navigable at high tide can ground a vessel at low tide. Check current tidal levels and USGS Delta flow data before exploring unfamiliar channels.

Lake Tahoe: AIS inspection mandatory before launch

Lake Tahoe has one of the strictest AIS programs in California. All trailered vessels must be inspected and certified at the inspection station at the launch ramp before entering the water. Penalties for bypassing inspection are significant. Tahoe is also at 6,225 feet elevation; engine performance differs from sea level, and afternoon thunderstorms can develop quickly in summer.

Reservoirs: water level variability and ramp access

California's major reservoirs experience dramatic water level variation due to drought and management cycles. A launch ramp accessible in a wet year may be 60-100 feet above the waterline in a drought year. Check current reservoir levels at cdec.water.ca.gov before traveling to a launch ramp. AIS inspection is required at most state-managed reservoirs.

Santa Ana wind protocol for Southern California coastal boaters

Santa Ana wind events (primarily October through December) bring strong offshore winds and very low humidity to Southern California coastal waters. These conditions create choppy, confused seas close to shore even when offshore conditions appear calm. Monitor NOAA weather radio during Red Flag Warning periods. Southern California marina operators often post Santa Ana wind advisories for coastal traffic.