Gonzales's Seismic Design Category, explained

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Gonzales in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Gonzales ranks above 24% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 24th percentile.

Where Gonzales sits in Louisiana

USGS's underlying values for Gonzales: 0.043g peak ground acceleration, 0.088g at short period, 0.055g at 1 second. Within Louisiana alone, Gonzales ranks 21 of 59 cities by seismic hazard - the 66th percentile in-state. Gonzales has a population of about 13,837.

Retrofit economics for Gonzales

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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

What this means for insurance

A Gonzales 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 Gonzales's figures come from

Gonzales'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 Gonzales.