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Venango County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$16Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$13.2 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$903,551 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$691,522 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 38 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate74.1
$13M
Strong windModerate73.1
$904K
LightningHigh82.3
$692K
TornadoLow34.5
$564K
HurricaneVery Low55.2
$106K
Cold waveVery Low10.1
$64K
EarthquakeVery Low28.5
$55K
Winter weatherLow46.2
$48K
HailVery Low16.3
$48K
Heat waveVery Low15.0
$30K
Ice stormVery Low26.5
$21K
LandslideLow67.7
$4K
WildfireVery Low12.6
$4K
AvalancheVery Low53.7
$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

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Oct 1, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Aug 23, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jun 15, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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.

16tornadoes
94hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
404damaging thunderstorm winds
96floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F4–40 / 8
May 31, 1985F4–5 / 0
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
Aug 7, 1981F2–0 / 0
May 31, 1985F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 19, 1996Flash FloodFranklin$50M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Aug 29, 2006Flash FloodOil City$1M
Aug 7, 1981Tornado–$250K
Apr 28, 2002TornadoRaymilton$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph57 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (92 policies)
9.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.9 millionpaid on 429 flood claims since 1978
1982costliest year, with $3.2 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 Venango County

$119,800median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10%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; 26,244 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
Butler CountyLow9
Mercer CountyLow11
Crawford CountyLow13
Warren CountyLow8
Clarion CountyVery Low12
Forest CountyVery Low10

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.