Ellsworth, ME: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Ellsworth is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Rank it against the rest of the country and Ellsworth sits at the 61th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

How Ellsworth compares

USGS's underlying values for Ellsworth: 0.144g peak ground acceleration, 0.25g at short period, 0.069g at 1 second. Within Maine alone, Ellsworth ranks 20 of 20 cities by seismic hazard - the 0th percentile in-state. Ellsworth has a population of about 8,822.

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 Maine 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 Maine.

What this means for insurance

A Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth's figures come from

Ellsworth'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 Ellsworth.