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Warren County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$23Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Warren County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $599 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2012 (Hurricane Sandy). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (154 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 126 claims here.

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

Top risks in Warren County

$20.6 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$506,883 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.8
$21M
Strong windModerate78.4
$1M
Cold waveLow35.8
$507K
LightningModerate63.5
$357K
TornadoVery Low21.9
$259K
HurricaneVery Low57.2
$139K
Winter weatherLow41.2
$44K
EarthquakeVery Low21.1
$29K
HailVery Low7.7
$21K
Ice stormVery Low21.7
$17K
Heat waveVery Low9.7
$16K
LandslideLow70.1
$6K
WildfireVery Low11.9
$4K
AvalancheVery Low45.9
$364

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 Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm1

Most recent

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
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 415 storm reports in Warren County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 14 injuries and about $4.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985.

19tornadoes
44hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
320damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
May 31, 1985F3–8 / 0
Apr 14, 2019EF2Irvine0 / 0
Jul 9, 1999F1Tidioute0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 4, 2019Flash FloodTidioute$1M
Apr 14, 2019TornadoIrvine$1M
Jul 21, 2003Flash FloodTidioute$500K
Jul 9, 1999Thunderstorm WindGarland$150K
Jul 9, 1999TornadoTidioute$150K
Jul 21, 2003Thunderstorm WindCherry Grove$100K

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 Warren County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 50 mph about 43 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph43 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph43 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 Warren County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (154 policies)
8.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 126 flood claims since 1978
1992costliest year, with $303,853 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 Warren County

$127,500median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.5%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; 21,629 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
Erie CountyModerate9
Chautauqua County, NYModerate20
Crawford CountyLow13
Cattaraugus County, NYModerate22
Venango CountyLow13
McKean CountyLow11
Elk CountyLow8
Forest CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Warren County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $20.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Warren County had?

Warren County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

Is Warren County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Warren County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Warren 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 Warren County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 44 hail reports and 31 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Warren County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Warren 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.