Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Altoona faces less hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Altoona gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #249 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 98 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Altoona’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Altoona faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Altoona’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Altoona, and Altoona’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
A #249 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Altoona’s residents live in 16 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Altoona has less expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.1M a year in losses across Altoona: $6.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Altoona flood? Sometimes: 98 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Altoona, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan7 claims · $42K
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $467
Altoona is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Blair County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Altoona
Disasters that paid out in Altoona itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Altoona), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan166 households applied for aid$313K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $42K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances94 households applied for aid$160K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding93 households applied for aid$170K aid approved15 flood claims paid that year
Blair County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Altoona after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Altoona archive →Altoona and its neighbors
Altoona is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Altoona | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Logan Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Newburg | — | 306 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Eldorado | — | 476 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lakemont | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Greenwood | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Altoona faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Altoona residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Altoona
Is Altoona at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Altoona has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #249 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Altoona flood?
Flood insurance has paid 98 claims in Altoona since 1978, $403K in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (7).
Is Altoona in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Blair County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Altoona?
Altoona is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Altoona?
By FEMA money that reached Altoona, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 166 households applied for aid, $313K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 7 paid, $42K.
Is Altoona at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Altoona’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Altoona.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Altoona’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.