Photo: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Clairton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clairton gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #803 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 10 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 Clairton 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 Clairton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clairton, and Clairton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #803 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clairton’s residents live in 3 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, Clairton has more expected damage per building than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Clairton: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clairton flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clairton, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $9K
Clairton 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Clairton
Disasters that paid out in Clairton itself (aid to households or repair grants to Clairton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan14 households applied for aid$16K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
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 Clairton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clairton archive →Clairton and its neighbors
Clairton is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Mifflin | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Jefferson Hills | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Clairton | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Glassport | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lincoln | — | 922 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 Clairton 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 Clairton
Is Clairton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clairton has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #803 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clairton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Clairton since 1978, $70K in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Clairton 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 Clairton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clairton’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 Clairton?
By FEMA money that reached Clairton, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 14 households applied for aid, $16K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Clairton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Clairton’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clairton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clairton’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.