Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $352 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (remnants of hurricane ida). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (234 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.8 million on 531 claims here, including $3.9 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 Huntingdon 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 68.8 | $12M | ||
| Strong wind | 89.6 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 71.2 | $640K | ||
| Tornado | 27.1 | $399K | ||
| Winter weather | 76.1 | $166K | ||
| Earthquake | 41.8 | $162K | ||
| Lightning | 35.2 | $128K | ||
| Heat wave | 28.1 | $115K | ||
| Hail | 19.5 | $66K | ||
| Cold wave | 8.7 | $59K | ||
| Landslide | 88.8 | $48K | ||
| Wildfire | 22.9 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 10.7 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 62.3 | $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 moderate 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 Huntingdon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1968
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 348 storm reports in Huntingdon County since 1968, with 2 deaths and 40 injuries and about $2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 18, 1991.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 1991 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 2026 | EF2 | Franklinville | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 20, 1989 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | Shades Vly | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 1989 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 18, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 28, 2009 | Flash Flood | Colfax | $250K |
| Jul 18, 2026 | Tornado | Franklinville | $200K |
| Apr 19, 2019 | Tornado | Shades Vly | $100K |
| Jun 9, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greenwood Furnace | $60K |
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 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Huntingdon County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 27 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 27 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 35 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 23, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 50 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 27 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 Huntingdon 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 Huntingdon 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; 20,984 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centre County | 13 | |
| Franklin County | 18 | |
| Blair County | 16 | |
| Bedford County | 19 | |
| Mifflin County | 15 | |
| Juniata County | 18 | |
| Fulton County | 15 |
Common questions about Huntingdon County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Huntingdon County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Huntingdon County, about $11.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Huntingdon County had?
Huntingdon County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021.
Is Huntingdon County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 57th 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 Huntingdon County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Huntingdon 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 Huntingdon County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Huntingdon County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 18, 1991. The weather service has also logged 42 hail reports and 43 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Huntingdon County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Huntingdon 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.