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Beaver County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
31st of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$35Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Beaver County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $211 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2012 (Hurricane Sandy). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (205 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $14 million on 832 claims here, including $6.4 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 Beaver County

$30.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate87.0
$30M
TornadoLow56.6
$2M
Strong windModerate78.1
$1M
HailModerate73.7
$678K
LightningModerate76.7
$649K
EarthquakeVery Low55.0
$369K
Heat waveLow45.7
$308K
Cold waveVery Low16.8
$179K
Ice stormModerate62.5
$154K
HurricaneVery Low54.1
$115K
Winter weatherLow35.5
$38K
LandslideLow81.7
$21K
WildfireVery Low34.9
$19K
AvalancheVery Low30.4
$115

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 low 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 Beaver County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Tornado1

Most recent

Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Apr 16, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Jun 8, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 1996Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Show all 13
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 847 storm reports in Beaver County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 49 injuries and about $62.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1985.

25tornadoes
153hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
509damaging thunderstorm winds
147floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F3–40 / 3
May 12, 1956F2–0 / 0
Jun 10, 1954F2–1 / 0
Jun 4, 1975F2–0 / 0
Sep 3, 1970F1–5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Jul 5, 2007Flash FloodAliquippa$10M
Jun 19, 1996Flash FloodFreedom$8M
Sep 3, 1970Tornado–$3M
Oct 6, 2024Thunderstorm WindBeaver Falls$3M
Oct 6, 2024Thunderstorm WindBeaver Falls Co Arpt$2M

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 1979, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Beaver County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 40 mph about 48 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph48 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 Beaver County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (205 policies)
19.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$13.6 millionpaid on 832 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $6.4 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 Beaver County

$190,900median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.2%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; 79,328 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
Allegheny CountyHigh16
Washington CountyModerate12
Butler CountyLow9
Columbiana County, OHLow16
Lawrence CountyLow10
Hancock County, WVVery Low16

Common questions about Beaver County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Beaver County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Beaver County, about $30.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Beaver County had?

Beaver County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

Is Beaver County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 31st 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 Beaver County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Beaver 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 Beaver County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Beaver County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 153 hail reports and 147 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Beaver County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Beaver County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 40 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.