Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 | 71.0 | $14M | ||
| Tornado | 47.0 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 75.3 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 37.9 | $616K | ||
| Strong wind | 45.9 | $493K | ||
| Earthquake | 46.9 | $237K | ||
| Lightning | 43.7 | $189K | ||
| Ice storm | 51.7 | $93K | ||
| Heat wave | 24.1 | $92K | ||
| Hail | 15.6 | $54K | ||
| Winter weather | 40.8 | $47K | ||
| Landslide | 81.2 | $19K | ||
| Wildfire | 21.2 | $8K | ||
| Avalanche | 26.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 22
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 1991 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1998 | F1 | Auburn Center | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2014 | EF1 | Kingsley | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 2012 | EF1 | Montrose Arpt | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2006 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $100M |
| Sep 17, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $10M |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $10M |
| Sep 7, 2011 | Flash Flood | Little Meadows | $500K |
| Sep 7, 2011 | Flash Flood | Little Meadows | $500K |
| Aug 14, 2018 | Flash Flood | Lawsville 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 51 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 36 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 34 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 49 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 34 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 36 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 49 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 51 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna County | 20 | |
| Broome County, NY | 26 | |
| Bradford County | 19 | |
| Wayne County | 23 | |
| Tioga County, NY | 23 | |
| Wyoming County | 25 |
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.