Westwego, LA: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Westwego in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Westwego ranks above 22% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 22th percentile.

How Westwego compares

USGS's underlying values for Westwego: 0.042g peak ground acceleration, 0.086g at short period, 0.053g at 1 second. Within Louisiana alone, Westwego ranks 38 of 59 cities by seismic hazard - the 36th percentile in-state. Westwego has a population of about 8,231.

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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

Earthquake insurance for a Westwego home

A Westwego 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 Westwego's figures come from

Westwego'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 Westwego.