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Clinton County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
56th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$14Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 45homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clinton County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $369 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2013 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance (336 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.2 million on 911 claims here, including $5.3 million for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Clinton County

$11.3 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
$1.1 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.
$354,554 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 25 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow71.3
$11M
Strong windModerate81.5
$1M
HurricaneLow66.8
$355K
TornadoLow27.3
$344K
LightningModerate61.3
$285K
Winter weatherModerate73.1
$124K
EarthquakeVery Low33.0
$79K
Heat waveVery Low24.3
$74K
Cold waveVery Low9.6
$57K
AvalancheLow76.0
$16K
HailVery Low6.7
$16K
LandslideLow80.3
$13K
WildfireVery Low15.2
$4K
Ice stormVery Low5.8
$2K

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 Clinton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm4
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2

Most recent

Oct 1, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 13
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 360 storm reports in Clinton County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 3 injuries and about $53.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985.

11tornadoes
37hail reports, largest 2 inches
294damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
Mar 16, 2025EF1Keating0 / 0
Nov 8, 1996F1Avis0 / 0
Jul 15, 1992F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Jun 27, 2013Flash FloodBeech Creek$2M
Mar 16, 2025TornadoKeating$300K
Dec 1, 2010FloodKeating$200K
Nov 8, 1996TornadoAvis$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clinton 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+)
7tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph39 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph39 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 Clinton County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (336 policies)
14.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.2 millionpaid on 911 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $5.3 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 Clinton County

$175,900median 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
8%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; 18,617 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
Lycoming CountyLow19
Clearfield CountyLow15
Union CountyLow16
Potter CountyVery Low12
Cameron CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Clinton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clinton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clinton County, about $11.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Clinton County had?

Clinton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in October 2013.

Is Clinton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 56th 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 Clinton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 45 homes in Clinton 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 Clinton County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Clinton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 37 hail reports and 17 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clinton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clinton 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.