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Snyder County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
52nd of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$15Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Snyder County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $376 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). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (194 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $12 million on 904 claims here, including $5.1 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 Snyder County

$11.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$1.1 million 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
$703,203 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 floodingLow71.2
$11M
HurricaneLow77.3
$1M
Strong windModerate65.5
$703K
TornadoLow36.9
$620K
Heat waveLow43.6
$225K
Cold waveVery Low22.3
$219K
EarthquakeVery Low48.7
$212K
Winter weatherModerate79.9
$175K
LightningLow40.5
$136K
HailVery Low11.5
$30K
Ice stormVery Low19.2
$13K
LandslideLow77.7
$10K
WildfireVery Low17.7
$5K
AvalancheVery Low16.1
$17

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 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 Snyder 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 22, 1999Tropical Depression Dennis PaMajor 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 208 storm reports in Snyder County since 1957, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $11.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 9, 1980.

10tornadoes
26hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
148damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 1980F2–0 / 0
Aug 28, 1978F2–1 / 0
Jun 6, 1994F1Kantz0 / 0
Jul 17, 1992F1–4 / 0
Sep 8, 2021EF1Middleburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 1994TornadoKantz$10M
Apr 9, 1980Tornado–$250K
Jul 17, 1992Tornado–$250K
Sep 7, 2011FloodKratzerville$230K
Aug 20, 1999Flash FloodMiddleburg$100K
Aug 4, 2017Thunderstorm WindDundore$55K

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, 1 hurricane and 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Snyder County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 85 mph about 54 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph54 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph41 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph33 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 55 mph50 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi
Oct 1, 1943UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph41 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 Snyder County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (194 policies)
21.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12.4 millionpaid on 904 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $5.1 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 Snyder County

$215,300median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.4%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; 16,053 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
Mifflin CountyLow15
Union CountyLow16
Juniata CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Snyder County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Snyder County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Snyder County, about $11.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Snyder County had?

Snyder 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 Snyder County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 52nd 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 Snyder County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Snyder 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 Snyder County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Snyder County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 9, 1980. The weather service has also logged 26 hail reports and 24 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Snyder County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Snyder 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.