Matteson, IL: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Matteson in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Matteson ranks above 41% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 41th percentile.

Matteson by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Matteson: 0.064g peak ground acceleration, 0.127g at short period, 0.068g at 1 second. Within Illinois alone, Matteson ranks 153 of 330 cities by seismic hazard - the 54th percentile in-state. Matteson has a population of about 18,566.

What a retrofit costs in Matteson

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 Illinois 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 Illinois.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A Matteson 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 Matteson's figures come from

Matteson'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 Matteson.