Does Versailles, KY need an earthquake retrofit?

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Versailles is Category C. Moderate seismic hazard. Code adds irregular-building restrictions and requires bracing of some nonstructural components (e.g. tall shelving, water heaters) in addition to structural detailing. Rank it against the rest of the country and Versailles sits at the 68th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

How Versailles compares

USGS's underlying values for Versailles: 0.081g peak ground acceleration, 0.165g at short period, 0.084g at 1 second. Within Kentucky alone, Versailles ranks 43 of 79 cities by seismic hazard - the 46th percentile in-state. Versailles has a population of about 10,656.

Retrofit economics for Versailles

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

What this means for insurance

A Versailles 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 Versailles's figures come from

Versailles's Category C 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 C does and doesn't tell you about Versailles.