FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Baldwin than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baldwin gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #93 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1987.
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 Baldwin’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Baldwin 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
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 Baldwin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Baldwin, and Baldwin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #93 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Baldwin’s residents live in 5 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, Baldwin has less expected damage per building than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Baldwin: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Baldwin flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Baldwin, 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 Ivan8 claims · $95K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $14K
Baldwin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Allegheny County.The storms Baldwin remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Baldwin itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20048 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 20188 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20177 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Allegheny County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Baldwin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Baldwin archive →Baldwin and its neighbors
Baldwin is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Hills | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Bethel Park | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Brentwood | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Baldwin | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| West Mifflin | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Whitehall | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| South Park Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Pittsburgh | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 447 |
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 Baldwin 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Baldwin
Is Baldwin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baldwin has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #93 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Baldwin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Baldwin since 1987, $576K 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 (8).
Is Baldwin 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Baldwin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Baldwin’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Baldwin?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 8 paid, $95K.
Is Baldwin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Baldwin’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Baldwin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Baldwin’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.