Oakdale's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Oakdale is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Oakdale ranks above 23% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 23th percentile.

Oakdale by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Oakdale: 0.043g peak ground acceleration, 0.088g at short period, 0.057g at 1 second. Within Louisiana alone, Oakdale ranks 30 of 59 cities by seismic hazard - the 50th percentile in-state. Oakdale has a population of about 6,490.

Retrofit economics for Oakdale

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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

What this means for insurance

A Oakdale 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 Oakdale's figures come from

Oakdale'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 Oakdale.