Does McCordsville, IN need an earthquake retrofit?

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, McCordsville is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts McCordsville in the 52th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 52% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

Where McCordsville sits in Indiana

USGS's underlying values for McCordsville: 0.085g peak ground acceleration, 0.168g at short period, 0.081g at 1 second. Within Indiana alone, McCordsville ranks 51 of 126 cities by seismic hazard - the 60th percentile in-state. McCordsville has a population of about 11,744.

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 Indiana 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 Indiana.

What this means for insurance

A McCordsville 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 McCordsville's figures come from

McCordsville'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 McCordsville.