Gary, IN: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Gary 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 Gary sits at the 34th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Gary by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Gary: 0.056g peak ground acceleration, 0.115g at short period, 0.066g at 1 second. Within Indiana alone, Gary ranks 109 of 126 cities by seismic hazard - the 14th percentile in-state. Gary has a population of about 67,555.

What a retrofit costs in Gary

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 Indiana 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 Indiana.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A Gary 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 Gary's figures come from

Gary'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 Gary.