Does Kettering, OH need an earthquake retrofit?

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Kettering in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Rank it against the rest of the country and Kettering sits at the 47th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Where Kettering sits in Ohio

USGS's underlying values for Kettering: 0.072g peak ground acceleration, 0.14g at short period, 0.07g at 1 second. Within Ohio alone, Kettering ranks 84 of 254 cities by seismic hazard - the 67th percentile in-state. Kettering has a population of about 57,028.

What a retrofit costs in Kettering

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 Ohio 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 Ohio.

Earthquake insurance for a Kettering home

A Kettering 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 Kettering's figures come from

Kettering'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 Kettering.