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Armstrong County, Pennsylvania

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$28Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$25.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.
$637,226 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.

Lightning

Moderate
$517,064 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 41 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate85.1
$26M
TornadoLow34.2
$637K
LightningModerate71.6
$517K
Strong windLow30.9
$294K
HailLow36.4
$153K
Heat waveVery Low30.8
$139K
EarthquakeVery Low35.2
$111K
HurricaneVery Low52.2
$88K
Cold waveVery Low9.4
$67K
LandslideLow85.3
$31K
Ice stormLow27.7
$27K
WildfireVery Low22.0
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low4.8
$4K
AvalancheVery Low52.5
$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

Flood5
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Tornado1

Most recent

Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Apr 16, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Aug 27, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1980Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

11tornadoes
72hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
352damaging thunderstorm winds
81floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 3, 1980F4–120 / 0
Sep 23, 1986F2–1 / 0
Apr 23, 1966F2–0 / 0
Jun 27, 1951F2–0 / 0
Mar 31, 2022EF2Echo0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 3, 1980Tornado–$250M
Sep 23, 1986Tornado–$3M
Oct 6, 2024Thunderstorm WindHicksville$3M
Jun 25, 2006Flash FloodKittanning$600K
Sep 26, 1994Thunderstorm WindWest Kittanni$500K
Jul 23, 1978Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph23 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph23 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (212 policies)
8.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.2 millionpaid on 437 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $2.4 million paid

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

$157,300median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Philadelphia CountyVery HighInland flooding
Allegheny CountyHighInland flooding
Montgomery CountyHighInland flooding
Bucks CountyHighInland flooding
Delaware CountyModerateInland flooding
Lancaster CountyHighInland flooding
Chester CountyModerateInland flooding
York CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Westmoreland CountyModerate18
Butler CountyLow9
Indiana CountyLow16
Jefferson CountyLow12
Clarion CountyVery Low12

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.