Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in DuBois than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DuBois gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #273 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 172 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 DuBois’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What DuBois 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 DuBois’ grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in DuBois, and DuBois’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
A #273 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
DuBois’ 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, DuBois has less expected damage per building than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across DuBois: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does DuBois flood? Yes: 172 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in DuBois, from FEMA’s records: 43.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan33 claims · $256K
DuBois 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.The storms DuBois remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Clearfield County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching DuBois itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201368 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Clearfield County
- 199650 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Clearfield County
- 200435 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Clearfield County
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 DuBois after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the DuBois archive →DuBois and its neighbors
DuBois has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| DuBois | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 172 |
| Oklahoma | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 DuBois 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 DuBois
Is DuBois at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DuBois has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #273 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does DuBois flood?
Flood insurance has paid 172 claims in DuBois since 1979, $3.1M in all, or 43.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (33).
Is DuBois 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 DuBois?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for DuBois’ 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 DuBois?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 33 paid, $256K.
Is DuBois at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and DuBois’ rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in DuBois.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where DuBois’ 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.