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Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
57th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$16Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$11.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$640,397 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow68.8
$12M
Strong windHigh89.6
$2M
HurricaneLow71.2
$640K
TornadoLow27.1
$399K
Winter weatherModerate76.1
$166K
EarthquakeVery Low41.8
$162K
LightningLow35.2
$128K
Heat waveVery Low28.1
$115K
HailVery Low19.5
$66K
Cold waveVery Low8.7
$59K
LandslideModerate88.8
$48K
WildfireVery Low22.9
$9K
Ice stormVery Low10.7
$5K
AvalancheVery Low62.3
$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

Flood5
Hurricane5
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3

Most recent

Sep 10, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2013Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 12, 2011Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
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
Show all 16
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 1996Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FranMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

11tornadoes
42hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
251damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 18, 1991F2–3 / 0
Jul 18, 2026EF2Franklinville0 / 0
Nov 20, 1989F2–0 / 0
Jun 24, 1989F1–0 / 0
Apr 19, 2019EF1Shades Vly0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 24, 1989Tornado–$250K
Sep 18, 1991Tornado–$250K
May 28, 2009Flash FloodColfax$250K
Jul 18, 2026TornadoFranklinville$200K
Apr 19, 2019TornadoShades Vly$100K
Jun 9, 2025Thunderstorm WindGreenwood 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph27 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph35 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Oct 23, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph27 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 ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (234 policies)
17%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.8 millionpaid on 531 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $3.9 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 Huntingdon County

$183,200median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.7%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; 20,984 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
Franklin CountyLow18
Blair CountyLow16
Bedford CountyLow19
Mifflin CountyLow15
Juniata CountyVery Low18
Fulton CountyVery Low15

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.