Hillview, KY: what USGS's seismic model says

Hillview carries Seismic Design Category C under USGS's ASCE 7-16 model. Moderate seismic hazard. Code adds irregular-building restrictions and requires bracing of some nonstructural components (e.g. tall shelving, water heaters) in addition to structural detailing. Nationally, Hillview ranks above 69% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 69th percentile.

How Hillview compares

USGS's underlying values for Hillview: 0.093g peak ground acceleration, 0.192g at short period, 0.099g at 1 second. Within Kentucky alone, Hillview ranks 29 of 79 cities by seismic hazard - the 64th percentile in-state. Hillview has a population of about 8,962.

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 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 Hillview 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 Hillview's figures come from

Hillview's Category C 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 C does and doesn't tell you about Hillview.