Wixom, MI: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Wixom in Seismic Design 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 Wixom sits at the 27th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Wixom by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Wixom: 0.046g peak ground acceleration, 0.094g at short period, 0.045g at 1 second. Within Michigan alone, Wixom ranks 82 of 153 cities by seismic hazard - the 47th percentile in-state. Wixom has a population of about 17,486.

Retrofit economics for Wixom

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 Michigan 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 Michigan.

What this means for insurance

A Wixom 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 Wixom's figures come from

Wixom'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 Wixom.