Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $424 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2012 (Hurricane Sandy). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (212 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.2 million on 437 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2004.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Armstrong County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 85.1 | $26M | ||
| Tornado | 34.2 | $637K | ||
| Lightning | 71.6 | $517K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.9 | $294K | ||
| Hail | 36.4 | $153K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.8 | $139K | ||
| Earthquake | 35.2 | $111K | ||
| Hurricane | 52.2 | $88K | ||
| Cold wave | 9.4 | $67K | ||
| Landslide | 85.3 | $31K | ||
| Ice storm | 27.7 | $27K | ||
| Wildfire | 22.0 | $9K | ||
| Winter weather | 4.8 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 52.5 | $686 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Armstrong County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 523 storm reports in Armstrong County since 1951, with 1 death and 128 injuries and about $260 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 3, 1980.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 1980 | F4 | – | 120 / 0 |
| Sep 23, 1986 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1966 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1951 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF2 | Echo | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Sep 23, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hicksville | $3M |
| Jun 25, 2006 | Flash Flood | Kittanning | $600K |
| Sep 26, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | West Kittanni | $500K |
| Jul 23, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1955, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Armstrong County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 50 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 23 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 23 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Armstrong County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Armstrong County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 32,128 housing units.
Compare in Pennsylvania
All 67 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County | Inland flooding | |
| Allegheny County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Bucks County | Inland flooding | |
| Delaware County | Inland flooding | |
| Lancaster County | Inland flooding | |
| Chester County | Inland flooding | |
| York County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County | 18 | |
| Butler County | 9 | |
| Indiana County | 16 | |
| Jefferson County | 12 | |
| Clarion County | 12 |
Common questions about Armstrong County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Armstrong County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Armstrong County, about $25.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $637,226.
How many federal disasters has Armstrong County had?
Armstrong County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.
Is Armstrong County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd highest of 67 in Pennsylvania. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Armstrong County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Armstrong County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Armstrong County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Armstrong County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 3, 1980. The weather service has also logged 72 hail reports and 81 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Armstrong County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Armstrong County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 50 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.