Bradford County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Bradford County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $538 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2018 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 62 homes here carry federal flood insurance (458 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $25 million on 898 claims here, including $17 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Bradford 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 86.1 | $28M | ||
| Lightning | 90.8 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 41.2 | $700K | ||
| Tornado | 31.6 | $565K | ||
| Hurricane | 69.4 | $561K | ||
| Strong wind | 27.8 | $271K | ||
| Earthquake | 45.1 | $210K | ||
| Heat wave | 32.7 | $158K | ||
| Ice storm | 49.1 | $83K | ||
| Hail | 19.7 | $71K | ||
| Landslide | 81.4 | $19K | ||
| Wildfire | 21.7 | $9K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.8 | $8K | ||
| Avalanche | 53.9 | $759 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Bradford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
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 624 storm reports in Bradford County since 1951, with 3 deaths and 22 injuries and about $125 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 13, 2018 near Bailey Corners.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2018 | EF2 | Bailey Corners | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 19, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 1996 | F1 | Wyalusing | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1998 | F1 | Terrytown | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1964 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2006 | Flash Flood | East Portion | $25M |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $21M |
| Sep 17, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $20M |
| Sep 7, 2011 | Flood | East Athens | $15M |
| Jun 27, 2006 | Flood | Sayre | $10M |
| Sep 7, 2011 | Flood | Towanda | $5M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1876, 1 hurricane and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bradford County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 85 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 17, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 45 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 47 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 45 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 17, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 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 Bradford 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 Bradford 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; 29,486 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lycoming County | 19 | |
| Chemung County, NY | 15 | |
| Tioga County, NY | 23 | |
| Tioga County | 18 | |
| Susquehanna County | 22 | |
| Wyoming County | 25 | |
| Sullivan County | 23 |
Common questions about Bradford County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Bradford County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bradford County, about $28.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Bradford County had?
Bradford County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in November 2018.
Is Bradford County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 Bradford County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 63 homes in Bradford 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 Bradford County had?
NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Bradford County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 13, 2018 near Bailey Corners. The weather service has also logged 83 hail reports and 174 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Bradford County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bradford County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 85 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.