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Tioga County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
45th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$19Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tioga County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $452 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (282 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.5 million on 234 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 2024.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Tioga County

$16.3 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.
$620,229 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$558,144 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate78.9
$16M
HurricaneLow71.8
$620K
Strong windModerate55.2
$558K
TornadoVery Low24.0
$296K
LightningModerate58.9
$281K
Winter weatherModerate75.5
$150K
Cold waveVery Low14.4
$127K
EarthquakeVery Low31.1
$75K
HailVery Low13.4
$38K
Heat waveVery Low15.9
$36K
Ice stormLow30.1
$28K
LandslideLow82.0
$18K
WildfireVery Low20.8
$7K
AvalancheLow70.6
$4K

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm5
Hurricane3
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
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Show all 18
Aug 23, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 23, 1996Severe Thunderstorms, High Winds,Rain, FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jan 29, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 7, 1976High Winds, Flash FloodsMajor 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 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 347 storm reports in Tioga County since 1967, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries and about $7.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 2, 1983.

7tornadoes
54hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
242damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1983F2–0 / 0
Aug 30, 1970F1–0 / 0
May 30, 2011EF1Knoxville0 / 0
Jul 23, 2018EF1Nauvoo0 / 0
Jul 8, 1997F1Tioga0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 2, 1983Tornado–$3M
Nov 8, 1996Flash FloodWellsboro$3M
Aug 2, 1994Thunderstorm WindMiddlebury Ctr$502K
Sep 7, 2011FloodEast Lawrence$450K
Jul 12, 2021Flash FloodRoseville$300K
Mar 16, 2025Thunderstorm WindBalsam$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tioga County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 38 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph38 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph38 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 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 Tioga County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (282 policies)
22.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.5 millionpaid on 234 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $1.7 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 Tioga County

$181,100median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.6%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; 21,571 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
Lycoming CountyLow19
Steuben County, NYLow21
Chemung County, NYLow15
Bradford CountyLow19
Potter CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Tioga County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tioga County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tioga County, about $16.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $620,229.

How many federal disasters has Tioga County had?

Tioga County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Tioga County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 45th 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 Tioga County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Tioga 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 Tioga County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Tioga County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 2, 1983. The weather service has also logged 54 hail reports and 43 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tioga County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tioga County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.