Cedarhurst's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Cedarhurst is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Cedarhurst in the 62th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 62% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

Where Cedarhurst sits in New York

USGS's underlying values for Cedarhurst: 0.159g peak ground acceleration, 0.263g at short period, 0.057g at 1 second. Within New York alone, Cedarhurst ranks 61 of 170 cities by seismic hazard - the 64th percentile in-state. Cedarhurst has a population of about 7,324.

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 New York 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 New York.

What this means for insurance

A Cedarhurst 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 Cedarhurst's figures come from

Cedarhurst'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 Cedarhurst.