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Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$41Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $41 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $359 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (661 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $58 million on 3,878 claims here, including $23 million for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Lycoming County

$34.8 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.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingModerate89.0
$35M
Strong windHigh87.3
$2M
TornadoLow50.4
$1M
HurricaneLow75.1
$986K
Cold waveLow32.9
$480K
LightningModerate68.9
$472K
Heat waveLow52.5
$421K
Winter weatherHigh89.0
$375K
EarthquakeVery Low48.3
$250K
HailVery Low17.0
$58K
LandslideLow83.1
$24K
AvalancheLow75.4
$16K
WildfireVery Low26.9
$12K
Ice stormVery Low11.8
$6K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm5
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Nov 27, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 2, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 12, 2011Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Show all 19
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Sep 22, 1999Tropical Depression Dennis PaMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 651 storm reports in Lycoming County since 1956, with 10 deaths and 26 injuries and about $71 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1985.

29tornadoes
112hail reports, largest 3 inches
454damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F3–20 / 2
Jul 29, 1976F3–0 / 0
Aug 16, 1966F2–1 / 0
Oct 2, 2018EF2Texas0 / 0
Mar 31, 2022EF1Clarkstown1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 21, 2016Flash FloodBodines$26M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Sep 7, 2011FloodPicture Rocks$11M
Jul 29, 1976Tornado–$3M
Sep 7, 1999Flash FloodSoutheast Portion$1M
Jun 28, 2016Thunderstorm WindMoreland$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Lycoming County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 61 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph42 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph61 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 Lycoming County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (661 policies)
15.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$58.3 millionpaid on 3,878 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $22.7 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 Lycoming County

$202,200median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 52,715 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
Northumberland CountyLow17
Columbia CountyLow18
Bradford CountyLow19
Union CountyLow16
Tioga CountyLow18
Clinton CountyLow13
Montour CountyVery Low15
Potter CountyVery Low12

Cities in Lycoming County

Common questions about Lycoming County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lycoming County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lycoming County, about $34.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Lycoming County had?

Lycoming County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Lycoming County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Lycoming County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Lycoming 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 Lycoming County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Lycoming County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 55 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lycoming County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lycoming 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.