Tonawanda, NY: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Tonawanda 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 Tonawanda sits at the 54th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Tonawanda by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Tonawanda: 0.091g peak ground acceleration, 0.164g at short period, 0.045g at 1 second. Within New York alone, Tonawanda ranks 127 of 170 cities by seismic hazard - the 25th percentile in-state. Tonawanda has a population of about 14,984.

Retrofit economics for Tonawanda

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 New York 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 New York.

Earthquake insurance for a Tonawanda home

A Tonawanda 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 Tonawanda's figures come from

Tonawanda'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 Tonawanda.