Does Terrell, TX need an earthquake retrofit?

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Terrell 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 Terrell sits at the 28th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Where Terrell sits in Texas

USGS's underlying values for Terrell: 0.047g peak ground acceleration, 0.098g at short period, 0.056g at 1 second. Within Texas alone, Terrell ranks 112 of 384 cities by seismic hazard - the 71th percentile in-state. Terrell has a population of about 22,977.

Retrofit economics for Terrell

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 Texas 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 Texas.

Earthquake insurance for a Terrell home

A Terrell 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 Terrell's figures come from

Terrell'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 Terrell.