Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Curwensville than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Curwensville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Curwensville 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 Curwensville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Curwensville, and Curwensville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Curwensville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $733K a year in losses across Curwensville: $625K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Curwensville flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Curwensville, from FEMA’s records: 10.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $1K
Curwensville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clearfield County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Curwensville
Disasters that paid out in Curwensville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Curwensville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan23 households applied for aid$19K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
Clearfield County has had 14 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 Curwensville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Curwensville archive →Get ready for what Curwensville 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 Curwensville
Is Curwensville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Curwensville has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. 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 Curwensville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Curwensville since 1979, $45K in all, or 10.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% 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 Curwensville 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 Clearfield County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Curwensville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Curwensville’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 Curwensville?
By FEMA money that reached Curwensville, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 23 households applied for aid, $19K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Curwensville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Curwensville’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Curwensville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Curwensville’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.