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Indiana County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
43rd of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$19Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$14.2 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 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$761,869 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate77.8
$14M
Cold waveLow57.7
$1M
TornadoLow42.6
$762K
LightningHigh84.1
$712K
HurricaneLow70.8
$511K
LandslideHigh98.0
$494K
Strong windLow47.5
$406K
HailLow52.4
$231K
EarthquakeVery Low48.3
$201K
Heat waveVery Low32.1
$122K
Ice stormLow36.3
$35K
WildfireVery Low37.9
$18K
Winter weatherVery Low9.2
$6K
AvalancheVery Low42.1
$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

Flood5
Snowstorm4
Hurricane3
Severe Storm2
Tornado1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Apr 16, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Show all 16
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 13, 1980Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Jul 21, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Sep 28, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

19tornadoes
108hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
422damaging thunderstorm winds
87floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 22, 1983F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F2Indiana1 / 0
Jun 3, 1980F2–0 / 0
Jul 26, 1981F2–0 / 0
Jul 19, 1996F2Punxsutawney3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 22, 1983Tornado–$3M
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodHomer City$2M
Apr 28, 2002TornadoIndiana$750K
Jun 3, 1980Tornado–$250K
Jul 26, 1981Tornado–$250K
Apr 28, 2002TornadoDeckers 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph65 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph17 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph17 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph65 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (171 policies)
18.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 387 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $569,660 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 Indiana County

$152,800median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.7%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; 37,626 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
Westmoreland CountyModerate18
Cambria CountyLow16
Clearfield CountyLow15
Armstrong CountyLow15
Jefferson CountyLow12

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.