Marvin, NC: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Marvin in Seismic Design Category C: Moderate seismic hazard. Code adds irregular-building restrictions and requires bracing of some nonstructural components (e.g. tall shelving, water heaters) in addition to structural detailing. Rank it against the rest of the country and Marvin sits at the 71th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Where Marvin sits in North Carolina

USGS's underlying values for Marvin: 0.115g peak ground acceleration, 0.221g at short period, 0.087g at 1 second. Within North Carolina alone, Marvin ranks 15 of 147 cities by seismic hazard - the 90th percentile in-state. Marvin has a population of about 6,985.

Retrofit economics for Marvin

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

What this means for insurance

A Marvin 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 Marvin's figures come from

Marvin's Category C 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 C does and doesn't tell you about Marvin.