Thurmont's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Thurmont is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Thurmont ranks above 42% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 42th percentile.

Where Thurmont sits in Maryland

USGS's underlying values for Thurmont: 0.067g peak ground acceleration, 0.129g at short period, 0.042g at 1 second. Within Maryland alone, Thurmont ranks 31 of 46 cities by seismic hazard - the 33th percentile in-state. Thurmont has a population of about 6,308.

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 Maryland 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 Maryland.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A Thurmont 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 Thurmont's figures come from

Thurmont'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 Thurmont.