Cameron County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cameron County, Pennsylvania has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $924 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (57 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $528,000 on 73 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Cameron 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- 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 | 40.7 | $4M | ||
| Hurricane | 55.1 | $94K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.6 | $63K | ||
| Strong wind | 10.5 | $59K | ||
| Tornado | 10.8 | $58K | ||
| Lightning | 18.9 | $49K | ||
| Winter weather | 25.0 | $18K | ||
| Avalanche | 74.9 | $11K | ||
| Earthquake | 12.6 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 77.0 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.1 | $2K | ||
| Hail | 1.9 | $2K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.4 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 0.7 | $209 |
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 high 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 Cameron County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1985
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 100 storm reports in Cameron County since 1985 and about $434,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 26, 1994 near Emporium.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 1994 | F1 | Emporium | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F1 | Sinnamahoning | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2010 | Flood | Lawn View | $200K |
| Aug 9, 2003 | Flash Flood | Emporium | $50K |
| Apr 1, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Driftwood | $25K |
| Jul 9, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emporium | $20K |
| Jul 9, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sinnamahoning | $10K |
| Jul 6, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emporium | $10K |
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, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cameron County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 54 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 55 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 44 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 Cameron 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 Cameron 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; 3,920 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clearfield County | 15 | |
| McKean County | 11 | |
| Clinton County | 13 | |
| Elk County | 8 | |
| Potter County | 12 |
Common questions about Cameron County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cameron County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cameron County, about $3.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $93,860.
How many federal disasters has Cameron County had?
Cameron County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.
Is Cameron County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Cameron County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Cameron 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 Cameron County had?
NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Cameron County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 26, 1994 near Emporium. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 7 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Cameron County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cameron County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.