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Wyoming County, Pennsylvania

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

Relatively Low overall risk
59th of 67highest risk in Pennsylvania
$14Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wyoming County, Pennsylvania has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 55% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $519 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (198 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $29 million on 1,189 claims here, including $18 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 Wyoming County

$12.1 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.
$352,609 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Very Low
$238,766 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow69.2
$12M
Cold waveLow27.6
$353K
TornadoVery Low20.6
$239K
HurricaneLow60.7
$214K
Strong windLow22.0
$191K
LightningLow34.2
$123K
Heat waveVery Low29.2
$121K
EarthquakeVery Low35.8
$111K
Winter weatherLow40.6
$44K
Ice stormVery Low25.8
$24K
HailVery Low5.1
$12K
WildfireVery Low21.9
$8K
LandslideLow72.8
$7K
AvalancheVery Low58.6
$1K

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 Wyoming County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Hurricane7
Flood6
Snowstorm2
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Nov 27, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2013Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 12, 2011Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Jun 30, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Jun 8, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 10, 1994Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Oct 8, 1985Hurricane GloriaMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1976Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 1975

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 211 storm reports in Wyoming County since 1975, with 2 deaths and 16 injuries and about $149 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 2, 1998 near Meshoppen.

8tornadoes
25hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
123damaging thunderstorm winds
54floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1998F3Meshoppen15 / 2
Aug 28, 1988F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1996F1Laceyville0 / 0
May 31, 1998F1Beaumont0 / 0
Mar 18, 1980F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$60M
Aug 28, 2011Flash FloodForkston$23M
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$20M
Sep 7, 2011FloodMeshoppen$20M
Sep 17, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$15M
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodLovelton$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Wyoming County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 85 mph about 59 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph44 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 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 Wyoming County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (198 policies)
23.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$28.5 millionpaid on 1,189 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $18.1 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 Wyoming County

$215,400median home value (Pennsylvania $254,500, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Pennsylvania 1965, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.8%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; 12,896 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
Luzerne CountyModerate21
Lackawanna CountyModerate20
Bradford CountyLow19
Susquehanna CountyLow22
Sullivan CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Wyoming County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wyoming County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wyoming County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $352,609.

How many federal disasters has Wyoming County had?

Wyoming County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Wyoming County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 59th 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 Wyoming County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Wyoming 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 Wyoming County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Wyoming County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 2, 1998 near Meshoppen. The weather service has also logged 25 hail reports and 54 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wyoming County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Wyoming 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.