Flood insurance in Pennsylvania
Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Pennsylvania, county by county, from official FEMA records.
Flood claims paid per year
NFIP claims paid in Pennsylvania, 2000–2026
The three costliest years. The worst was 2011, with $356.3 million paid on 10,592 claims.
Insured buildings by flood zone
Zone not reported for 37% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.
Costliest flood events
Named events by NFIP claims paid in Pennsylvania
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Lee | 2011 | 7,866 | $302.7 million |
| Tropical Storm Ivan | 2004 | 8,147 | $183.1 million |
| Flooding | 1996 | 9,654 | $121.4 million |
| Hurricane Ida | 2021 | 1,809 | $108.0 million |
| Hurricane Floyd | 1999 | 1,759 | $54.3 million |
Flood insurance by county
Counties in Pennsylvania with detailed pages, by number of policies. 27 smaller counties are included in the state totals.
| County | Policies | Avg premium | Claims since 1978 | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luzerne County | 4,462 | $1,186 | 4,147 | $93.9 million |
| Montgomery County | 3,331 | $1,692 | 6,200 | $185.3 million |
| Bucks County | 3,198 | $1,628 | 5,260 | $149.8 million |
| Philadelphia County | 3,168 | $1,712 | 1,700 | $47.6 million |
| Allegheny County | 2,722 | $2,295 | 4,832 | $81.6 million |
| Delaware County | 2,040 | $1,415 | 3,034 | $57.2 million |
| Dauphin County | 1,469 | $2,191 | 5,248 | $86.1 million |
| Chester County | 1,275 | $1,490 | 1,914 | $37.6 million |
| Lackawanna County | 1,009 | $1,734 | 1,369 | $20.5 million |
| Westmoreland County | 916 | $1,487 | 1,612 | $21.6 million |
| Berks County | 878 | $1,514 | 1,313 | $23.6 million |
| Lancaster County | 860 | $1,659 | 2,106 | $32.8 million |
| York County | 823 | $1,615 | 1,753 | $20.7 million |
| Northampton County | 790 | $2,142 | 1,561 | $48.4 million |
| Lycoming County | 737 | $1,648 | 3,878 | $58.3 million |
| Schuylkill County | 715 | $1,530 | 1,041 | $26.3 million |
| Cumberland County | 631 | $1,750 | 1,600 | $16.9 million |
| Washington County | 630 | $2,157 | 1,131 | $21.1 million |
| Blair County | 611 | $1,215 | 1,117 | $8.5 million |
| Cambria County | 568 | $1,515 | 802 | $3.2 million |
| Lehigh County | 567 | $1,936 | 967 | $12.4 million |
| Bradford County | 561 | $1,421 | 898 | $24.8 million |
| Columbia County | 553 | $1,396 | 2,200 | $63.2 million |
| Northumberland County | 502 | $1,413 | 1,721 | $24.2 million |
| Butler County | 395 | $1,929 | 874 | $15.4 million |
| Clinton County | 378 | $1,384 | 911 | $8.2 million |
| Erie County | 372 | $1,171 | 512 | $6.0 million |
| Beaver County | 326 | $2,114 | 832 | $13.7 million |
| Lebanon County | 276 | $1,451 | 1,005 | $15.9 million |
| Fayette County | 273 | $1,941 | 722 | $10.1 million |
| Union County | 268 | $1,635 | 927 | $11.8 million |
| Huntingdon County | 265 | $1,200 | 531 | $8.8 million |
| Bedford County | 264 | $1,577 | 1,185 | $13.4 million |
| Clearfield County | 255 | $1,270 | 537 | $5.9 million |
| Wyoming County | 231 | $2,120 | 1,189 | $28.6 million |
| Snyder County | 224 | $1,340 | 904 | $12.4 million |
| Perry County | 207 | $1,688 | 749 | $7.4 million |
| Susquehanna County | 206 | $1,733 | 506 | $13.4 million |
Common questions
How much does flood insurance cost in Pennsylvania?
The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Pennsylvania costs about $1,643 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.
How many homes have flood insurance in Pennsylvania?
There are about 42,260 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Pennsylvania, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.
How often does Pennsylvania flood?
Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Pennsylvania have filed 77,060 flood claims, with $1.4 billion paid out. 8,315 of those claims were in the last 10 years.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.
How long until a new flood policy starts?
NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.
How to get flood insurance
Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.