Coraopolis Railroad Station · Photo: Crolinson · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Coraopolis faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coraopolis gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #1,011 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 14 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 Coraopolis 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 Coraopolis’ grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Coraopolis, and Coraopolis’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #1,011 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Coraopolis’ 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, Coraopolis has more expected damage per building than 97% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Coraopolis: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Coraopolis flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Coraopolis, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $26K
Coraopolis 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 Coraopolis
Disasters that paid out in Coraopolis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Coraopolis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan115 households applied for aid$273K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $26K
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 Coraopolis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Coraopolis archive →Coraopolis and its neighbors
Coraopolis is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Moon Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Neville Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Coraopolis | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
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 Coraopolis 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 Coraopolis
Is Coraopolis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coraopolis has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #1,011 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Coraopolis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Coraopolis since 1979, $104K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Coraopolis 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 Coraopolis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Coraopolis’ 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 Coraopolis?
By FEMA money that reached Coraopolis, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 115 households applied for aid, $273K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $26K.
Is Coraopolis at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Coraopolis’ rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Coraopolis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Coraopolis’ 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.