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<br /> <br />The retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings throughout the city is nearly <br />complete thanks to the diligence and commitment of the building owners. This <br />retrofit work has improved the earthquake resistance of these buildings, thus <br />enhancing the safety of the occupants. The owners are to be commended for their <br />efforts. <br />The seismic strengthening of older wood-frame homes throughout the city is <br />progressing with the help of the HOME EARTHQUAKE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM. <br />This is a comprehensive residential seismic strengthening program that provides <br />property owners with simple and cost-effective methods for strengthening their <br />wood-frame houses for earthquake survival. San Leandro's Home Earthquake <br />Strengthening Program includes six fundamental elements, each of which is <br />described below. <br />Earthquake Strengthening Workshops - This popular workshop series, provided <br />to homeowners on a quarterly basis, reviews common residential construction <br />weaknesses and introduces the average citizen to basic repair techniques that can <br />significantly improve a home's performance in earthquakes. The course is offered <br />through the City’s Building Division and consists of four evening sessions for <br />homeowners who wish to learn how to "do-it-yourself" or learn how to get the best <br />service if they hire a contractor. <br />The City also offers similar classes for contractors. A major obstacle to homeowner <br />participation in earthquake strengthening is the difficulty in hiring qualified retrofit <br />contractors. To increase homeowner confidence in finding a qualified retrofit <br />professional, another element of San Leandro's Home Earthquake Strengthening <br />Program is the Contractor Workshop. This quarterly 8-hour course is aimed at <br />optimizing and regulating the quality of services that retrofit contractors provide to <br />San Leandro homeowners. <br />The San Leandro Earthquake Handbook - This is a high-impact, full-color, 16- <br />page booklet that provides residents with a plain-English explanation about <br />earthquake risks in the community. It contains easy-to-follow illustrations and step- <br />by-step instructions for evaluating and strengthening a wood-frame house against <br />earthquakes (anchor-bolting, plywood shear-paneling, nailing, blocking, etc.), <br />guidance for strapping a water heater, as well as preventing the collapse of a brick <br />chimney. It also contains information about the City's over-the-counter permit for <br />home-earthquake strengthening, references to other resources in the community, <br />and frequently asked questions and answers. <br />A Prescribed Retrofit Standard & Free Plan Set - Improving upon a concept that <br />originated with the City of Santa Barbara, San Leandro developed a recommended <br />standard for regulating the quality of home retrofit procedures undertaken in the <br />San Leandro community. This standard, published as a Prescriptive Plan Set for <br />Strengthening Wood-frame Houses for Earthquakes, provides San Leandro <br />homeowners or their contractors with a simple and rapid procedure for obtaining a