Pennsylvania Flood Zones
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. 27 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 20%.
FEMA Region
Region 3
Also covers Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, +2 more
NFIP Policies
58,000
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.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Pennsylvania has received 35 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
1
2010s
7
2000s
2
1990s
7
1980s
6
1970s
8
1960s
1
1950s
3
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 35 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Pennsylvania properties have filed 76,882 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.4B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $19K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
4,753
2010s
17,824
2000s
20,488
1990s
17,391
1980s
9,799
1970s
6,627
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
26,869
Zone AE
23,113
Zone X
20,313
Zone AO
105
Zone V
23
Zone D
12
Zone VE
11
Zone AH
4
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Pennsylvania
27 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%.
Bloomsburg
Class 6 - 20% discount
Wilkes Barre
Class 6 - 20% discount
Lower Makefield
Class 7 - 15% discount
Warwick
Class 7 - 15% discount
Yardley
Class 7 - 15% discount
Kingston
Class 7 - 15% discount
West Pittston
Class 7 - 15% discount
Herndon
Class 7 - 15% discount
Etna
Class 7 - 15% discount
Upper St.. Clair
Class 7 - 15% discount
Milton
Class 7 - 15% discount
Selinsgrove
Class 7 - 15% discount
+15 more Pennsylvania communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Pennsylvania Address
Enter a PA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupPennsylvania 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, 27 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.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Pennsylvania.