High Point, NC: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, High Point is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, High Point ranks above 47% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 47th percentile.

How High Point compares

USGS's underlying values for High Point: 0.072g peak ground acceleration, 0.148g at short period, 0.068g at 1 second. Within North Carolina alone, High Point ranks 87 of 147 cities by seismic hazard - the 41th percentile in-state. High Point has a population of about 118,601.

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A High 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 High Point's figures come from

High 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 High Point.