Kelso, WA: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Kelso is Category D. High seismic hazard - this is the category most of coastal California, the Pacific Northwest, and other active fault regions fall into. Code mandates significant seismic detailing and restricts irregular structural configurations. This is the category the Brace + Bolt scope (cripple-wall bracing, foundation bolting) is built for. Rank it against the rest of the country and Kelso sits at the 87th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Where Kelso sits in Washington

USGS's underlying values for Kelso: 0.403g peak ground acceleration, 0.882g at short period, 0.425g at 1 second. Within Washington alone, Kelso ranks 87 of 125 cities by seismic hazard - the 31th percentile in-state. Kelso has a population of about 12,737.

Retrofit economics for Kelso

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 Washington 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 Washington.

Earthquake insurance for a Kelso home

A Kelso 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 Kelso's figures come from

Kelso's Category D 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 D does and doesn't tell you about Kelso.