Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 87.0 | $30M | ||
| Tornado | 56.6 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 78.1 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 73.7 | $678K | ||
| Lightning | 76.7 | $649K | ||
| Earthquake | 55.0 | $369K | ||
| Heat wave | 45.7 | $308K | ||
| Cold wave | 16.8 | $179K | ||
| Ice storm | 62.5 | $154K | ||
| Hurricane | 54.1 | $115K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.5 | $38K | ||
| Landslide | 81.7 | $21K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.9 | $19K | ||
| Avalanche | 30.4 | $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
Most recent
Show all 13
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1985 | F3 | – | 40 / 3 |
| May 12, 1956 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 1954 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 3, 1970 | F1 | – | 5 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1985 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jul 5, 2007 | Flash Flood | Aliquippa | $10M |
| Jun 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Freedom | $8M |
| Sep 3, 1970 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Beaver Falls | $3M |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Beaver 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 48 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 48 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny County | 16 | |
| Washington County | 12 | |
| Butler County | 9 | |
| Columbiana County, OH | 16 | |
| Lawrence County | 10 | |
| Hancock County, WV | 16 |
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.