Pigeon Forge, TN: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Pigeon Forge in Seismic Design 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. Rank it against the rest of the country and Pigeon Forge sits at the 79th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

How Pigeon Forge compares

USGS's underlying values for Pigeon Forge: 0.33g peak ground acceleration, 0.508g at short period, 0.122g at 1 second. Within Tennessee alone, Pigeon Forge ranks 67 of 104 cities by seismic hazard - the 36th percentile in-state. Pigeon Forge has a population of about 6,446.

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.

Earthquake insurance for a Pigeon Forge home

A Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge's figures come from

Pigeon Forge'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 Pigeon Forge.