Tempe, AZ: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Tempe in Seismic Design 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 Tempe sits at the 50th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Where Tempe sits in Arizona

USGS's underlying values for Tempe: 0.079g peak ground acceleration, 0.179g at short period, 0.065g at 1 second. Within Arizona alone, Tempe ranks 48 of 57 cities by seismic hazard - the 16th percentile in-state. Tempe has a population of about 190,114.

Retrofit economics for Tempe

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 Arizona 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 Arizona.

Earthquake insurance for a Tempe home

A Tempe 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 Tempe's figures come from

Tempe'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 Tempe.