Does Keyport, NJ need an earthquake retrofit?

Keyport carries Seismic Design Category B under USGS's ASCE 7-16 model. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Keyport ranks above 62% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 62th percentile.

Where Keyport sits in New Jersey

USGS's underlying values for Keyport: 0.159g peak ground acceleration, 0.263g at short period, 0.056g at 1 second. Within New Jersey alone, Keyport ranks 114 of 194 cities by seismic hazard - the 41th percentile in-state. Keyport has a population of about 7,182.

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A Keyport 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 Keyport's figures come from

Keyport'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 Keyport.