Does Kenner, LA need an earthquake retrofit?

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Kenner in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Kenner in the 23th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 23% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

Where Kenner sits in Louisiana

USGS's underlying values for Kenner: 0.042g peak ground acceleration, 0.086g at short period, 0.053g at 1 second. Within Louisiana alone, Kenner ranks 33 of 59 cities by seismic hazard - the 45th percentile in-state. Kenner has a population of about 64,650.

Retrofit economics for Kenner

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.

Earthquake insurance for a Kenner home

A Kenner 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 Kenner's figures come from

Kenner'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 Kenner.