Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 64% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $225 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 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (171 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 387 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Indiana 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 77.8 | $14M | ||
| Cold wave | 57.7 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 42.6 | $762K | ||
| Lightning | 84.1 | $712K | ||
| Hurricane | 70.8 | $511K | ||
| Landslide | 98.0 | $494K | ||
| Strong wind | 47.5 | $406K | ||
| Hail | 52.4 | $231K | ||
| Earthquake | 48.3 | $201K | ||
| Heat wave | 32.1 | $122K | ||
| Ice storm | 36.3 | $35K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.9 | $18K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.2 | $6K | ||
| Avalanche | 42.1 | $234 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Indiana 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 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 638 storm reports in Indiana County since 1953, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $10 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 22, 1983.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F2 | Indiana | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 1981 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 19, 1996 | F2 | Punxsutawney | 3 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1983 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Homer City | $2M |
| Apr 28, 2002 | Tornado | Indiana | $750K |
| Jun 3, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 26, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 28, 2002 | Tornado | Deckers Pt | $250K |
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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Indiana County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 65 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 49 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 17 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 17 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 49 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 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 Indiana 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 Indiana 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; 37,626 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County | 18 | |
| Cambria County | 16 | |
| Clearfield County | 15 | |
| Armstrong County | 15 | |
| Jefferson County | 12 |
Common questions about Indiana County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Indiana County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Indiana County, about $14.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1 million.
How many federal disasters has Indiana County had?
Indiana County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.
Is Indiana County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 43rd 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 Indiana County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Indiana 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 Indiana County had?
NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Indiana County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 22, 1983. The weather service has also logged 108 hail reports and 87 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Indiana County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Indiana 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.