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Fulton County, Pennsylvania

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

Very Low overall risk
67th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$4Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$672,560 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 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.
$336,416 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low21.5
$3M
HurricaneLow71.2
$673K
Strong windLow34.0
$336K
TornadoVery Low15.5
$151K
EarthquakeVery Low34.2
$104K
HailVery Low17.5
$61K
Heat waveVery Low18.0
$51K
LightningVery Low11.5
$39K
LandslideLow83.8
$26K
Cold waveVery Low5.6
$24K
Winter weatherVery Low21.7
$19K
DroughtVery Low25.6
$14K
WildfireVery Low22.8
$9K
Ice stormVery Low9.9
$5K
AvalancheVery Low22.4
$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

Hurricane5
Flood4
Snowstorm4
Severe Storm2

Most recent

Sep 10, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2013Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Apr 16, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
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
Show all 15
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
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 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.

6tornadoes
20hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
81damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 29, 2019EF1Enid0 / 0
Apr 19, 2019EF1Knobsville0 / 0
Aug 4, 2017EF1Needmore0 / 0
Sep 17, 2004F1Mc Connellsburg0 / 0
Jun 16, 2016EF0Northcraft0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 29, 2019TornadoEnid$35K
Jun 15, 2000Thunderstorm WindWarfordsburg$25K
Apr 19, 2019TornadoKnobsville$25K
May 1, 2003Flash FloodNeedmore$15K
Apr 19, 2019Thunderstorm WindKnobsville$12K
Jul 1, 1999Thunderstorm WindHarrisonville$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.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph38 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph36 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
17.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$362,846paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $303,984 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 Fulton County

$208,500median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.5%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; 7,157 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
Franklin CountyLow18
Washington County, MDLow15
Allegany County, MDLow15
Bedford CountyLow19
Huntingdon CountyLow16

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.