Preston, ID: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Preston is Category D. High seismic hazard - this is the category most of coastal California, the Pacific Northwest, and other active fault regions fall into. Code mandates significant seismic detailing and restricts irregular structural configurations. This is the category the Brace + Bolt scope (cripple-wall bracing, foundation bolting) is built for. Nationally, Preston ranks above 87% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 87th percentile.

Where Preston sits in Idaho

USGS's underlying values for Preston: 0.4g peak ground acceleration, 0.921g at short period, 0.3g at 1 second. Within Idaho alone, Preston ranks 1 of 36 cities by seismic hazard - the 100th percentile in-state. Preston has a population of about 6,160.

What a retrofit costs in Preston

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 Idaho 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 Idaho.

What this means for insurance

A Preston 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 Preston's figures come from

Preston's Category D 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 D does and doesn't tell you about Preston.