Photo: Canadian2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Blairsville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blairsville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #568 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Blairsville 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 Blairsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blairsville, and Blairsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #568 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Blairsville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Blairsville has more expected damage per building than 55% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $804K a year in losses across Blairsville: $705K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blairsville flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blairsville, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Blairsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Indiana County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Blairsville
Disasters that paid out in Blairsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Blairsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan8 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
Indiana 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 Blairsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blairsville archive →Get ready for what Blairsville 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 Blairsville
Is Blairsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blairsville has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #568 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blairsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Blairsville since 1978, $26K in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Blairsville 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 Indiana County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blairsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blairsville’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 Blairsville?
By FEMA money that reached Blairsville, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 8 households applied for aid, $20K approved.
Is Blairsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Blairsville’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blairsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blairsville’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.