Venango County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Venango County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and lightning. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $313 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2013 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (92 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.9 million on 429 claims here, including $3.2 million for floods in 1982.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Venango 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 74.1 | $13M | ||
| Strong wind | 73.1 | $904K | ||
| Lightning | 82.3 | $692K | ||
| Tornado | 34.5 | $564K | ||
| Hurricane | 55.2 | $106K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.1 | $64K | ||
| Earthquake | 28.5 | $55K | ||
| Winter weather | 46.2 | $48K | ||
| Hail | 16.3 | $48K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.0 | $30K | ||
| Ice storm | 26.5 | $21K | ||
| Landslide | 67.7 | $4K | ||
| Wildfire | 12.6 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 53.7 | $631 |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Venango County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1965
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 618 storm reports in Venango County since 1965, with 9 deaths and 62 injuries and about $106 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1985 | F4 | – | 40 / 8 |
| May 31, 1985 | F4 | – | 5 / 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 7, 1981 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Franklin | $50M |
| May 31, 1985 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 31, 1985 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Aug 29, 2006 | Flash Flood | Oil City | $1M |
| Aug 7, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 28, 2002 | Tornado | Raymilton | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1955, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Venango County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 50 mph about 57 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 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 Venango 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 Venango 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; 26,244 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 9 | |
| Mercer County | 11 | |
| Crawford County | 13 | |
| Warren County | 8 | |
| Clarion County | 12 | |
| Forest County | 10 |
Common questions about Venango County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Venango County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Venango County, about $13.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $903,551.
How many federal disasters has Venango County had?
Venango County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in October 2013.
Is Venango County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Venango County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Venango 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 Venango County had?
NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Venango County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 94 hail reports and 96 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Venango County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Venango County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 50 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.