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Clarion County, Pennsylvania

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$9Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clarion County, Pennsylvania has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $8.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $233 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2012 (Hurricane Sandy). Only 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.9 million on 189 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 1996.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Clarion County

$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Lightning

Moderate
$670,075 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 38 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$478,912 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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 floodingLow52.2
$6M
LightningModerate80.9
$670K
Cold waveLow35.6
$479K
Strong windLow44.4
$415K
TornadoLow28.8
$414K
HurricaneLow63.4
$266K
EarthquakeVery Low32.0
$82K
HailVery Low12.1
$35K
Winter weatherLow31.6
$28K
Heat waveVery Low12.3
$23K
Ice stormVery Low20.7
$15K
LandslideLow70.2
$5K
WildfireVery Low16.3
$5K
AvalancheVery Low40.8
$245

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 moderate 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 Clarion County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2
Severe Storm2

Most recent

Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Aug 23, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 15, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
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 467 storm reports in Clarion County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 26 injuries and about $78.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 19, 1996 near New Bethlehem.

15tornadoes
69hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
303damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 19, 1996F2New Bethlehem0 / 0
Jun 1, 1954F2–0 / 0
Oct 4, 1973F1–1 / 0
May 1, 2017EF1Frills Corners0 / 0
Jul 26, 2002F0Scotch Hill0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 19, 1996Flash FloodShippenville$75M
Oct 6, 2024Thunderstorm WindEaston$1M
Jul 23, 1978Tornado–$250K
Oct 4, 1973Tornado–$250K
Jul 1, 2023Flash FloodSligo$100K
Aug 19, 2006Thunderstorm WindStrattanville$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1955, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clarion County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 50 mph about 56 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph56 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 Clarion County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (37 policies)
12.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.9 millionpaid on 189 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $1.3 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 Clarion County

$155,700median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.3%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; 18,856 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
Butler CountyLow9
Armstrong CountyLow15
Venango CountyLow13
Jefferson CountyLow12
Forest CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Clarion County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clarion County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clarion County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $670,075.

How many federal disasters has Clarion County had?

Clarion County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

Is Clarion County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Clarion County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Clarion 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 Clarion County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Clarion County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 19, 1996 near New Bethlehem. The weather service has also logged 69 hail reports and 65 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clarion County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clarion County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 50 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.