Mena, AR: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Mena is 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. Nationally, Mena ranks above 67% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 67th percentile.

Mena by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Mena: 0.075g peak ground acceleration, 0.155g at short period, 0.085g at 1 second. Within Arkansas alone, Mena ranks 55 of 68 cities by seismic hazard - the 19th percentile in-state. Mena has a population of about 5,594.

What a retrofit costs in Mena

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas.

What this means for insurance

A Mena 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 Mena's figures come from

Mena'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 Mena.