Vermilion, OH: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Vermilion is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Vermilion in the 42th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 42% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

Where Vermilion sits in Ohio

USGS's underlying values for Vermilion: 0.066g peak ground acceleration, 0.126g at short period, 0.05g at 1 second. Within Ohio alone, Vermilion ranks 172 of 254 cities by seismic hazard - the 32th percentile in-state. Vermilion has a population of about 10,733.

What a retrofit costs in Vermilion

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 Ohio 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 Ohio.

Earthquake insurance for a Vermilion home

A Vermilion 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 Vermilion's figures come from

Vermilion'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 Vermilion.