Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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 | 52.2 | $6M | ||
| Lightning | 80.9 | $670K | ||
| Cold wave | 35.6 | $479K | ||
| Strong wind | 44.4 | $415K | ||
| Tornado | 28.8 | $414K | ||
| Hurricane | 63.4 | $266K | ||
| Earthquake | 32.0 | $82K | ||
| Hail | 12.1 | $35K | ||
| Winter weather | 31.6 | $28K | ||
| Heat wave | 12.3 | $23K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.7 | $15K | ||
| Landslide | 70.2 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 16.3 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 40.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 12
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1996 | F2 | New Bethlehem | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 4, 1973 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 1, 2017 | EF1 | Frills Corners | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 2002 | F0 | Scotch Hill | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Shippenville | $75M |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Easton | $1M |
| Jul 23, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 4, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 1, 2023 | Flash Flood | Sligo | $100K |
| Aug 19, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Strattanville | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 56 mi |
| 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 |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 56 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 9 | |
| Armstrong County | 15 | |
| Venango County | 13 | |
| Jefferson County | 12 | |
| Forest County | 10 |
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.