Does Fox Point, WI need an earthquake retrofit?

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Fox Point is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Fox Point ranks above 18% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 18th percentile.

Fox Point by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Fox Point: 0.035g peak ground acceleration, 0.072g at short period, 0.047g at 1 second. Within Wisconsin alone, Fox Point ranks 74 of 157 cities by seismic hazard - the 53th percentile in-state. Fox Point has a population of about 6,591.

Retrofit economics for Fox Point

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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.

What this means for insurance

A Fox Point 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 Fox Point's figures come from

Fox Point'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 Fox Point.