Madeira's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Madeira is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Madeira in the 46th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 46% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

How Madeira compares

USGS's underlying values for Madeira: 0.071g peak ground acceleration, 0.143g at short period, 0.075g at 1 second. Within Ohio alone, Madeira ranks 107 of 254 cities by seismic hazard - the 58th percentile in-state. Madeira has a population of about 9,542.

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 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 Madeira home

A Madeira 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 Madeira's figures come from

Madeira'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 Madeira.