Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Crawford County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $319 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2013 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (251 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 330 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Crawford 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 87.2 | $22M | ||
| Strong wind | 86.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 52.5 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 83.5 | $645K | ||
| Hurricane | 67.1 | $334K | ||
| Winter weather | 88.9 | $284K | ||
| Hail | 58.1 | $268K | ||
| Cold wave | 23.1 | $212K | ||
| Earthquake | 50.3 | $210K | ||
| Ice storm | 57.7 | $91K | ||
| Heat wave | 24.9 | $72K | ||
| Wildfire | 36.0 | $15K | ||
| Landslide | 55.9 | $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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Crawford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 801 storm reports in Crawford County since 1950, with 14 deaths and 105 injuries and about $370 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1985 | F4 | – | 75 / 8 |
| May 31, 1985 | F3 | – | 0 / 2 |
| May 31, 1985 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1972 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | F2 | – | 0 / 1 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Jul 21, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $30M |
| May 31, 1985 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Sep 8, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $12M |
| Jul 21, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $10M |
| May 21, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $4M |
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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Crawford County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 50 mph about 58 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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; 42,157 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Erie County | 9 | |
| Trumbull County, OH | 9 | |
| Mercer County | 11 | |
| Ashtabula County, OH | 12 | |
| Venango County | 13 | |
| Warren County | 8 |
Common questions about Crawford County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Crawford County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crawford County, about $22.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Crawford County had?
Crawford County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in October 2013.
Is Crawford County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 30th 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 Crawford County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Crawford 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 Crawford County had?
NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Crawford County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 186 hail reports and 67 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Crawford County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Crawford 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.