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Mifflin County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
34th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$18Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mifflin County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $399 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2012 (Hurricane Sandy). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (160 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.8 million on 487 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 1996.

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

Top risks in Mifflin County

$15.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$891,299 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$783,267 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.6
$15M
HurricaneLow77.3
$891K
Strong windModerate77.7
$783K
TornadoLow41.8
$604K
LightningModerate66.3
$281K
Heat waveLow42.7
$170K
EarthquakeVery Low48.6
$166K
Winter weatherModerate80.7
$143K
Cold waveVery Low17.9
$124K
HailVery Low25.0
$61K
Ice stormVery Low23.8
$14K
LandslideLow80.2
$10K
WildfireVery Low26.6
$8K
AvalancheVery Low57.3
$774

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2

Most recent

Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 12, 2011Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 1996Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FranMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Show all 15
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor 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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 204 storm reports in Mifflin County since 1952, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 19, 2019 near Granville.

5tornadoes
22hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
163damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 2019EF2Granville0 / 0
Jul 23, 1952F2–4 / 0
Jul 21, 1983F1–0 / 0
Nov 8, 1996F1Burnham0 / 0
Mar 15, 1954F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 19, 2019TornadoGranville$500K
Jul 21, 1983Tornado–$250K
Sep 7, 2011FloodAllensville$100K
Nov 8, 1996TornadoBurnham$40K
Jul 10, 1995HailGrainville$30K
Jul 23, 1952Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Mifflin County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 42 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph42 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph48 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph38 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph44 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph48 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Oct 23, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph42 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 Mifflin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (160 policies)
8.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.8 millionpaid on 487 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $1.7 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 Mifflin County

$156,700median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.2%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; 21,468 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
Centre CountyLow13
Huntingdon CountyLow16
Union CountyLow16
Snyder CountyLow15
Juniata CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Mifflin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mifflin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mifflin County, about $15.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $891,299.

How many federal disasters has Mifflin County had?

Mifflin County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

Is Mifflin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 34th 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 Mifflin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Mifflin 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 Mifflin County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Mifflin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 19, 2019 near Granville. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 14 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Mifflin County?

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