Juniata County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 60.3 | $7M | ||
| Hurricane | 76.7 | $914K | ||
| Strong wind | 50.6 | $409K | ||
| Tornado | 26.9 | $301K | ||
| Heat wave | 37.7 | $150K | ||
| Earthquake | 37.8 | $97K | ||
| Cold wave | 13.3 | $93K | ||
| Winter weather | 65.8 | $81K | ||
| Lightning | 28.2 | $74K | ||
| Hail | 15.0 | $37K | ||
| Landslide | 79.2 | $11K | ||
| Ice storm | 13.8 | $6K | ||
| Wildfire | 16.5 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 52.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 18
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2011 | EF2 | Cocolamus | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 12, 2017 | EF1 | Mc Alisterville | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF1 | East Waterford | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF1 | Cross Keys | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | East Salem | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2017 | Tornado | Mc Alisterville | $501K |
| Aug 20, 1999 | Flash Flood | Richfield | $500K |
| May 23, 2011 | Tornado | Cocolamus | $50K |
| Jun 16, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centre | $50K |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Tornado | East Waterford | $25K |
| Apr 19, 2019 | Tornado | Cross 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 44 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 47 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 43 mi |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 1, 1943 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 23, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dauphin County | 20 | |
| Franklin County | 18 | |
| Northumberland County | 17 | |
| Mifflin County | 15 | |
| Perry County | 18 | |
| Huntingdon County | 16 | |
| Snyder County | 15 |
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.