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Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
38th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$22Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clearfield County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $277 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (195 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.9 million on 537 claims here, including $3.2 million for floods in 2013.

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

Top risks in Clearfield County

$17.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$1.1 million 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 floodingModerate80.6
$17M
Strong windModerate82.9
$1M
Cold waveLow57.4
$1M
LightningHigh84.4
$770K
TornadoLow40.7
$760K
HurricaneLow71.0
$557K
Winter weatherHigh90.0
$348K
EarthquakeVery Low43.4
$159K
HailVery Low18.3
$55K
Heat waveVery Low17.5
$41K
Ice stormLow36.3
$38K
LandslideLow81.3
$16K
WildfireVery Low34.3
$16K
AvalancheVery Low48.0
$388

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Clearfield County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Tornado1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Jul 26, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 21, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
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 529 storm reports in Clearfield County since 1954 and about $37.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985.

9tornadoes
38hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
428damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
Sep 26, 1994F2St. Lawrence0 / 0
Jul 18, 2026EF1Morann0 / 0
Aug 9, 2009EF1Tyler0 / 0
Aug 16, 2001F1Luthersburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Jul 13, 2021Thunderstorm WindDu Bois$8M
Jun 27, 2013Flash FloodClear Run$3M
May 21, 2004Flash FloodMahaffey Jct$200K
Dec 1, 2010FloodSabula$200K
Jul 27, 2003Flash FloodDu Bois$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clearfield County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 39 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph39 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph44 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph44 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph39 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 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 Clearfield County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (195 policies)
15.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.9 millionpaid on 537 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $3.2 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 Clearfield County

$137,000median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.2%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; 38,198 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
Centre CountyLow13
Cambria CountyLow16
Blair CountyLow16
Indiana CountyLow16
Jefferson CountyLow12
Clinton CountyLow13
Elk CountyLow8
Cameron CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Clearfield County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clearfield County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clearfield County, about $17.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Clearfield County had?

Clearfield County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Clearfield County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 38th 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 Clearfield County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Clearfield 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 Clearfield County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Clearfield County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 38 hail reports and 53 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clearfield County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clearfield 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.