Morton, IL: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Morton is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Morton in the 42th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 42% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

How Morton compares

USGS's underlying values for Morton: 0.066g peak ground acceleration, 0.137g at short period, 0.078g at 1 second. Within Illinois alone, Morton ranks 129 of 330 cities by seismic hazard - the 61th percentile in-state. Morton has a population of about 17,557.

Retrofit economics for Morton

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.

Earthquake insurance for a Morton home

A Morton 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 Morton's figures come from

Morton'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 Morton.