North Syracuse's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, North Syracuse is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Rank it against the rest of the country and North Syracuse sits at the 46th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

North Syracuse by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for North Syracuse: 0.072g peak ground acceleration, 0.144g at short period, 0.052g at 1 second. Within New York alone, North Syracuse ranks 148 of 170 cities by seismic hazard - the 13th percentile in-state. North Syracuse has a population of about 6,761.

Retrofit economics for North Syracuse

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 New York 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 New York.

What this means for insurance

A North Syracuse 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 North Syracuse's figures come from

North Syracuse'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 North Syracuse.