Storms, floods and disasters in Dauphin
Dauphin isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Dauphin yet. Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1978.
What Dauphin 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.
Does Dauphin flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dauphin, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Lee13 claims · $275K
- Tropical Storm Ivan10 claims · $148K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $17K
Dauphin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dauphin County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dauphin
Disasters that paid out in Dauphin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Dauphin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee114 households applied for aid$219K aid approved13 flood claims paid for it, $275K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides12 households applied for aid$24K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan78 households applied for aid$228K aid approved10 flood claims paid for it, $148K
Dauphin County has had 17 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 Dauphin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dauphin archive →Get ready for what Dauphin 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 Dauphin
Does Dauphin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Dauphin since 1978, $676K in all. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (13).
Is Dauphin 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 Dauphin County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dauphin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dauphin’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 Dauphin?
By FEMA money that reached Dauphin, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 78 households applied for aid, $228K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 13 paid, $275K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dauphin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dauphin’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.