Anderson, SC: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Anderson in Seismic Design Category C: Moderate seismic hazard. Code adds irregular-building restrictions and requires bracing of some nonstructural components (e.g. tall shelving, water heaters) in addition to structural detailing. Rank it against the rest of the country and Anderson sits at the 76th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Anderson by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Anderson: 0.181g peak ground acceleration, 0.308g at short period, 0.096g at 1 second. Within South Carolina alone, Anderson ranks 33 of 66 cities by seismic hazard - the 51th percentile in-state. Anderson has a population of about 30,937.

Bracing and bolting: the actual cost

A full earthquake retrofit typically runs $5,000-$10,000 nationally (around $7,000 typical), driven mainly by house size and foundation type, not by South Carolina specifically. California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant, which covers a large share of this cost, is a California-only program and does not apply in South Carolina.

What this means for insurance

A Anderson homeowner cannot buy a standalone earthquake policy in most cases - it is added to an existing homeowners policy as an endorsement, so the place to start is a regular home-insurance quote.

Where Anderson's figures come from

Anderson's Category C and every number above trace to USGS's own ASCE 7-16 Design Maps service - see the methodology guide. See the category explainer for what Category C does and doesn't tell you about Anderson.