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Pike County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
40th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$24Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$17.9 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate78.8
$18M
Cold waveModerate76.6
$3M
HurricaneLow76.7
$1M
Strong windModerate62.5
$757K
TornadoLow27.8
$431K
EarthquakeVery Low56.1
$368K
LightningLow56.0
$280K
Heat waveLow39.9
$222K
WildfireLow71.9
$195K
Winter weatherModerate63.7
$100K
Ice stormLow38.1
$47K
HailVery Low10.8
$33K
LandslideLow67.6
$5K
DroughtVery Low15.1
$641
AvalancheVery Low42.8
$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

Hurricane6
Severe Storm4
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 10, 2013Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Jun 8, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Aug 19, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1965Water ShortageMajor disaster

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.

8tornadoes
61hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
145damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1998F3Pecks Pond2 / 0
May 31, 1998F2Blooming Grove0 / 0
May 31, 1998F2Blooming Grove0 / 0
Jul 23, 2010EF1Kimbles0 / 0
Jul 23, 2010EF1Mast Hope0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$23M
Sep 18, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$15M
Jun 28, 2006FloodMilford$5M
May 31, 1998TornadoPecks Pond$1M
Aug 12, 2004Flash FloodShohola$1M
Apr 3, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$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.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph39 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph30 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph65 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph46 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph30 mi
Jul 11, 2020FayTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 19, 1955DianeTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph46 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (172 policies)
11.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3 millionpaid on 219 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $1.8 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 Pike County

$272,600median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
37%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6%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; 40,177 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
Orange County, NYModerate32
Monroe CountyModerate19
Sussex County, NJLow25
Sullivan County, NYLow31
Wayne CountyLow23

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.