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Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
54th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$18Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Susquehanna 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 54th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $467 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (176 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 506 claims here, including $6.0 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 Susquehanna County

$13.9 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 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 floodingLow71.0
$14M
TornadoLow47.0
$1M
HurricaneLow75.3
$1M
Cold waveLow37.9
$616K
Strong windLow45.9
$493K
EarthquakeVery Low46.9
$237K
LightningLow43.7
$189K
Ice stormLow51.7
$93K
Heat waveVery Low24.1
$92K
HailVery Low15.6
$54K
Winter weatherLow40.8
$47K
LandslideLow81.2
$19K
WildfireVery Low21.2
$8K
AvalancheVery Low26.6
$78

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 low and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood6
Hurricane5
Snowstorm2
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Nov 27, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 12, 2011Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 8, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor 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
Oct 8, 1985Hurricane GloriaMajor disaster
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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 529 storm reports in Susquehanna County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $129 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 18, 1991.

13tornadoes
75hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
335damaging thunderstorm winds
100floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 18, 1991F2–0 / 0
Apr 17, 1954F2–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1998F1Auburn Center0 / 0
Jul 8, 2014EF1Kingsley0 / 0
Jul 26, 2012EF1Montrose Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$100M
Sep 17, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$10M
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$10M
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodLittle Meadows$500K
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodLittle Meadows$500K
Aug 14, 2018Flash FloodLawsville Center$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 1878, 1 hurricane and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Susquehanna County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 85 mph about 51 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph51 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph36 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph34 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph49 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph34 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph36 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph49 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph51 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 Susquehanna County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (176 policies)
19.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$13.3 millionpaid on 506 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $6 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 Susquehanna County

$216,400median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11%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; 21,348 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
Lackawanna CountyModerate20
Broome County, NYModerate26
Bradford CountyLow19
Wayne CountyLow23
Tioga County, NYLow23
Wyoming CountyLow25

Common questions about Susquehanna County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Susquehanna County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Susquehanna County, about $13.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Susquehanna County had?

Susquehanna County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Susquehanna County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 54th 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 Susquehanna County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Susquehanna 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 Susquehanna County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Susquehanna County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 18, 1991. The weather service has also logged 75 hail reports and 100 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Susquehanna County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Susquehanna 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.