Pike County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Pike County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $419 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2013 (Hurricane Sandy). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (172 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 219 claims here, including $1.8 million for floods in 2006.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Pike 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 78.8 | $18M | ||
| Cold wave | 76.6 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 76.7 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 62.5 | $757K | ||
| Tornado | 27.8 | $431K | ||
| Earthquake | 56.1 | $368K | ||
| Lightning | 56.0 | $280K | ||
| Heat wave | 39.9 | $222K | ||
| Wildfire | 71.9 | $195K | ||
| Winter weather | 63.7 | $100K | ||
| Ice storm | 38.1 | $47K | ||
| Hail | 10.8 | $33K | ||
| Landslide | 67.6 | $5K | ||
| Drought | 15.1 | $641 | ||
| Avalanche | 42.8 | $299 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Pike County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1989
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 235 storm reports in Pike County since 1989, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $48.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1998 near Pecks Pond.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | Pecks Pond | 2 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | Blooming Grove | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | Blooming Grove | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 2010 | EF1 | Kimbles | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 2010 | EF1 | Mast Hope | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $23M |
| Sep 18, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $15M |
| Jun 28, 2006 | Flood | Milford | $5M |
| May 31, 1998 | Tornado | Pecks Pond | $1M |
| Aug 12, 2004 | Flash Flood | Shohola | $1M |
| Apr 3, 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 1863, 1 hurricane and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pike County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 85 mph about 39 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 39 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 30 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 46 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 30 mi |
| Jul 11, 2020 | Fay | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 19, 1955 | Diane | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 1, 1952 | Able | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 46 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 Pike 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 Pike 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; 40,177 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County, NY | 32 | |
| Monroe County | 19 | |
| Sussex County, NJ | 25 | |
| Sullivan County, NY | 31 | |
| Wayne County | 23 |
Common questions about Pike County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $17.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Pike County had?
Pike County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in January 2013.
Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 40th 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 Pike County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?
NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1998 near Pecks Pond. The weather service has also logged 61 hail reports and 19 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Pike County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pike County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 85 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.