Does Cary, IL need an earthquake retrofit?

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Cary in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Cary ranks above 35% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 35th percentile.

Where Cary sits in Illinois

USGS's underlying values for Cary: 0.058g peak ground acceleration, 0.114g at short period, 0.06g at 1 second. Within Illinois alone, Cary ranks 258 of 330 cities by seismic hazard - the 22th percentile in-state. Cary has a population of about 18,031.

Retrofit economics for Cary

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 Illinois 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 Illinois.

Earthquake insurance for a Cary home

A Cary 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 Cary's figures come from

Cary's Category B 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 B does and doesn't tell you about Cary.