Beaver, Thomas, Free Library and Danville YMCA · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA puts Danville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Danville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #909 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 71 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 Danville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Danville 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 Danville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Danville, and Danville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C #909 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Danville’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, Danville has more expected damage per building than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Danville: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Danville flood? Sometimes: 71 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Danville, from FEMA’s records: 28.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee29 claims · $2.0M
- Tropical Storm Ivan4 claims · $35K
Danville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Montour County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Danville
Disasters that paid out in Danville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Danville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee194 households applied for aid$510K aid approved29 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides74 households applied for aid$111K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan27 households applied for aid$79K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $35K
Montour County has had 13 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 Danville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Danville archive →Get ready for what Danville 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.
- Danville residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Danville
Is Danville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Danville has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #909 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 Danville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 71 claims in Danville since 1979, $2.2M in all, or 28.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (29).
Is Danville 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 Montour County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Danville?
Danville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Danville?
By FEMA money that reached Danville, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 194 households applied for aid, $510K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 29 paid, $2.0M.
Is Danville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Danville’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Danville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Danville’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.