Home › Pennsylvania › Bradford County

Bradford County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$32Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 63homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$28.3 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 31 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$700,329 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate86.1
$28M
LightningHigh90.8
$1M
Cold waveLow41.2
$700K
TornadoLow31.6
$565K
HurricaneLow69.4
$561K
Strong windLow27.8
$271K
EarthquakeVery Low45.1
$210K
Heat waveVery Low32.7
$158K
Ice stormLow49.1
$83K
HailVery Low19.7
$71K
LandslideLow81.4
$19K
WildfireVery Low21.7
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low9.8
$8K
AvalancheVery Low53.9
$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

Flood7
Severe Storm7
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2

Most recent

Nov 27, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 2, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 12, 2011Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Oct 20, 1976Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 26, 1975Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
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 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.

21tornadoes
83hail reports, largest 2 inches
332damaging thunderstorm winds
174floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 2018EF2Bailey Corners0 / 0
Sep 19, 1954F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1996F1Wyalusing0 / 0
Jun 2, 1998F1Terrytown0 / 0
Jul 1, 1964F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 2006Flash FloodEast Portion$25M
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$21M
Sep 17, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$20M
Sep 7, 2011FloodEast Athens$15M
Jun 27, 2006FloodSayre$10M
Sep 7, 2011FloodTowanda$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.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph64 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph45 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph47 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph45 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 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 Bradford County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (458 policies)
26.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$24.8 millionpaid on 898 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $16.7 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 Bradford County

$187,500median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.6%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; 29,486 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
Lycoming CountyLow19
Chemung County, NYLow15
Tioga County, NYLow23
Tioga CountyLow18
Susquehanna CountyLow22
Wyoming CountyLow25
Sullivan CountyVery Low23

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.