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Juniata County, Pennsylvania

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$9Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Juniata County, Pennsylvania has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 61% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $375 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2016 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (68 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 178 claims here, including $429,000 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 Juniata County

$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$913,533 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
$408,714 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 floodingLow60.3
$7M
HurricaneLow76.7
$914K
Strong windLow50.6
$409K
TornadoLow26.9
$301K
Heat waveVery Low37.7
$150K
EarthquakeVery Low37.8
$97K
Cold waveVery Low13.3
$93K
Winter weatherModerate65.8
$81K
LightningLow28.2
$74K
HailVery Low15.0
$37K
LandslideLow79.2
$11K
Ice stormVery Low13.8
$6K
WildfireVery Low16.5
$4K
AvalancheVery Low52.6
$509

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 very high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Juniata County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Snowstorm4
Hurricane4
Severe Storm3

Most recent

Mar 23, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor 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, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Show all 18
Sep 1, 1999Pa - Flooding 8/20/99Major disaster
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
Oct 20, 1976Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
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 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 159 storm reports in Juniata County since 1959, with 4 deaths and 0 injuries and about $1.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 23, 2011 near Cocolamus.

7tornadoes
14hail reports, largest 2 inches
118damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 23, 2011EF2Cocolamus0 / 0
Aug 12, 2017EF1Mc Alisterville0 / 0
Apr 28, 2011EF1East Waterford0 / 0
Apr 19, 2019EF1Cross Keys0 / 0
Jul 21, 2003F1East Salem0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 12, 2017TornadoMc Alisterville$501K
Aug 20, 1999Flash FloodRichfield$500K
May 23, 2011TornadoCocolamus$50K
Jun 16, 2022Thunderstorm WindCentre$50K
Apr 28, 2011TornadoEast Waterford$25K
Apr 19, 2019TornadoCross Keys$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Juniata County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 90 mph about 64 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph64 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph44 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Oct 1, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Oct 23, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 40 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 Juniata County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (68 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 178 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $428,691 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 Juniata County

$217,000median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%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; 10,506 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
Dauphin CountyModerate20
Franklin CountyLow18
Northumberland CountyLow17
Mifflin CountyLow15
Perry CountyLow18
Huntingdon CountyLow16
Snyder CountyLow15

Common questions about Juniata County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Juniata County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Juniata County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $913,533.

How many federal disasters has Juniata County had?

Juniata County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm in March 2016.

Is Juniata County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Juniata County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Juniata 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 Juniata County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Juniata County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 23, 2011 near Cocolamus. The weather service has also logged 14 hail reports and 20 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Juniata County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Juniata County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 90 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.