Florence, KY: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Florence in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Florence ranks above 48% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 48th percentile.

How Florence compares

USGS's underlying values for Florence: 0.074g peak ground acceleration, 0.149g at short period, 0.079g at 1 second. Within Kentucky alone, Florence ranks 62 of 79 cities by seismic hazard - the 22th percentile in-state. Florence has a population of about 33,763.

Retrofit economics for Florence

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

What this means for insurance

A Florence 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 Florence's figures come from

Florence'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 Florence.