Hitchcock, TX: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Hitchcock is Category A. Lowest seismic design category. Building code requires no seismic-specific detailing here beyond ordinary construction practice. Nationally, Hitchcock ranks above 11% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 11th percentile.

Hitchcock by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Hitchcock: 0.031g peak ground acceleration, 0.064g at short period, 0.037g at 1 second. Within Texas alone, Hitchcock ranks 263 of 384 cities by seismic hazard - the 32th percentile in-state. Hitchcock has a population of about 7,752.

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 Texas 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 Texas.

What this means for insurance

A Hitchcock 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 Hitchcock's figures come from

Hitchcock's Category A 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 A does and doesn't tell you about Hitchcock.