Rockland, ME: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Rockland 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 Rockland sits at the 61th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Rockland by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Rockland: 0.147g peak ground acceleration, 0.254g at short period, 0.069g at 1 second. Within Maine alone, Rockland ranks 19 of 20 cities by seismic hazard - the 5th percentile in-state. Rockland has a population of about 7,060.

Retrofit economics for Rockland

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 Maine 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 Maine.

What this means for insurance

A Rockland 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 Rockland's figures come from

Rockland'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 Rockland.