Fulton County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Fulton County, Pennsylvania has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 67th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $280 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (remnants of hurricane ida). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $363,000 on 16 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Fulton 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 21.5 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 71.2 | $673K | ||
| Strong wind | 34.0 | $336K | ||
| Tornado | 15.5 | $151K | ||
| Earthquake | 34.2 | $104K | ||
| Hail | 17.5 | $61K | ||
| Heat wave | 18.0 | $51K | ||
| Lightning | 11.5 | $39K | ||
| Landslide | 83.8 | $26K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.6 | $24K | ||
| Winter weather | 21.7 | $19K | ||
| Drought | 25.6 | $14K | ||
| Wildfire | 22.8 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 9.9 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 22.4 | $50 |
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 low 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 Fulton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1976
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 133 storm reports in Fulton County since 1976, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $289,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on May 29, 2019 near Enid.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2019 | EF1 | Enid | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | Knobsville | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2017 | EF1 | Needmore | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | F1 | Mc Connellsburg | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 2016 | EF0 | Northcraft | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2019 | Tornado | Enid | $35K |
| Jun 15, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Warfordsburg | $25K |
| Apr 19, 2019 | Tornado | Knobsville | $25K |
| May 1, 2003 | Flash Flood | Needmore | $15K |
| Apr 19, 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Knobsville | $12K |
| Jul 1, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Harrisonville | $10K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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, 1 hurricane and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 75 mph about 38 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 38 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 36 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 47 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 18, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 47 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 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 Fulton 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 Fulton 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; 7,157 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 18 | |
| Washington County, MD | 15 | |
| Allegany County, MD | 15 | |
| Bedford County | 19 | |
| Huntingdon County | 16 |
Common questions about Fulton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Fulton County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fulton County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $672,560.
How many federal disasters has Fulton County had?
Fulton County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021.
Is Fulton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 67th 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 Fulton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Fulton 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 Fulton County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Fulton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on May 29, 2019 near Enid. The weather service has also logged 20 hail reports and 24 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Fulton County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 75 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.