Pennsylvania Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Pennsylvania faces riverine flooding from the Susquehanna, Delaware, Allegheny, and Monongahela rivers, as well as flash flooding in mountain stream valleys. Hurricane remnants and tropical storms frequently bring heavy rainfall that causes widespread flooding across the state.
15 of 67 Pennsylvania counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 28 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 20%.
Pennsylvania has recorded 76,976 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $1.4B in payouts. See how Pennsylvania compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 3
Also covers Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, +2 more
NFIP Policies
48,465
Policies effective in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 - August 16, 2026), not a certified point-in-time count
PA Avg. Premium
$1,496/yr
National average: $915/yr
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Pennsylvania properties have filed 76,976 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.4B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $29,073.
Recent Years
Claims by Decade
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage in Pennsylvania
Only roughly 1 in 106 households in Pennsylvania carries NFIP flood insurance (0.9% of estimated households). 67 of 67 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 6,143 recorded flood events and $2.4B in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.9%
roughly 1 in 106 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
76,976 claims over 45+ years across 48,465 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$18,536
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, Pennsylvania has averaged 1.6 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI.
Repetitive Loss Properties in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 9,023 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 1,292 severe repetitive loss properties. 484 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
9,023
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
1,292
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
484
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 8,899 of 9,023 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Pennsylvania
28 Pennsylvania communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Pennsylvania range from 6 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 20%.
Class 6 - 20% discount
Wilkes-Barre
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Pennsylvania has received 35 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 35 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in Pennsylvania
NOAA has recorded 6,143 flood events in Pennsylvania since 1996, causing an estimated $2.4B in property and crop damage and 100 deaths.
Total Events
6,143
Total Damage
$2.4B
Fatalities
100
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation in Pennsylvania
FEMA has funded mitigation for 3,080 properties in Pennsylvania, investing $248.4M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
Properties by Action
Mitigation by Decade
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection in Pennsylvania
The USACE National Levee Database lists 17 levee systems protecting parts of 9 Pennsylvania cities. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped - accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited (PAL) systems generally leave their protected area in the SFHA.
By Accreditation Status
Largest Protected Areas
Wilkes-Barre-Hanover Township
AccreditedProtects: Hanover Township - Flood source: Susquehanna River - 3.39 sq mi
Sunbury
AccreditedProtects: Sunbury - Flood source: Shamokin Creek, Susquehanna River - 1.42 sq mi
Tinicum - Darby Creek Levee
Non-AccreditedProtects: Philadelphia - Flood source: Darby Creek - 0.37 sq mi
Bloomsburg
AccreditedProtects: Bloomsburg - Flood source: Susquehanna River - 0.37 sq mi
Albright Avenue
Status UnclearProtects: Scranton - Flood source: Lackawanna River - 0.31 sq mi
Green Ridge
Status UnclearProtects: Scranton - Flood source: Lackawanna River - 0.23 sq mi
...and 11 more systems tracked in the database.
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
Pennsylvania Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 67 Pennsylvania counties.
Inland Flood Risk
15 of 67 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
1 of 4 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
2 of 67 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Pennsylvania Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Pennsylvania property is in a flood zone?
Enter your PA address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Pennsylvania?
If your Pennsylvania property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Pennsylvania's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Pennsylvania?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Pennsylvania are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone AO, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Pennsylvania property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Pennsylvania property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Pennsylvania's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Pennsylvania communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 28 Pennsylvania communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 20% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
How much does flood insurance cost in Pennsylvania?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Pennsylvania is $1,496 per year across 48,465 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $1,776/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.
Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest flood risk?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Allegheny, Philadelphia, Montgomery are among Pennsylvania's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 15 of 67 Pennsylvania counties are rated "High" or "Very High" for inland flood risk. County-level ratings account for historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
How many NFIP flood insurance claims has Pennsylvania had?
Pennsylvania has recorded 76,976 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.4B in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 1996, with 11,075 claims and $138.3M in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Pennsylvania properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many Pennsylvania properties have flooded repeatedly?
Pennsylvania has 9,023 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 1,292 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 484 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of Pennsylvania homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 106 households in Pennsylvania carries NFIP flood insurance (0.9% of estimated households). 67 counties in Pennsylvania have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Are there levees protecting Pennsylvania cities?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 17 levee systems protecting parts of 9 Pennsylvania cities. 6 are FEMA-accredited (generally mapped as Zone X), 8 are non-accredited (the protected area stays in the SFHA), and 0 are provisionally accredited (PAL, accreditation in progress). Levee protection is system-specific, not citywide - check a specific city's page or use the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Pennsylvania.
See the Flood Map for Any Pennsylvania Address
Enter a PA address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.