Photo: Calzarette at en.wikipedia · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Blair Township than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blair Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #596 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 54 claims here since 1979.
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 Blair Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Blair Township 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 Blair Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blair Township, and Blair Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #596 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blair Township’s residents live in 2 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, Blair Township has more expected damage per building than 57% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Blair Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blair Township flood? Sometimes: 54 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blair Township, from FEMA’s records: 26.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan8 claims · $79K
- Tropical Storm Lee4 claims · $59K
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $28K
Blair Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Blair County.The storms Blair Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Blair County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Blair Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200418 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Blair County
- 19968 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Blair County
- 20104 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms, declared for Blair County
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 Blair Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blair Township archive →Blair Township and its neighbors
Blair Township is 4th of the 7 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 |
| Taylor Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Freedom Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Blair Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Frankstown Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 170 |
| Hollidaysburg | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Duncansville | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Loop | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Penn Farms | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Fort Fetter | — | 218 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Brooks Mill | — | 50 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Blair Township 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 Blair Township
Is Blair Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blair Township has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #596 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blair Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 54 claims in Blair Township since 1979, $564K in all, or 26.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (8).
Is Blair Township 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 Blair Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blair Township’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 Blair Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 8 paid, $79K.
Is Blair Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Blair Township’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blair Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blair Township’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.