FEMA puts Dunmore’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dunmore gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #202 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2018.
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 Dunmore 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
Hurricanes
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 Dunmore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dunmore, and Dunmore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
A #202 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dunmore’s residents live in 4 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, Dunmore has less expected damage per building than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Dunmore: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dunmore flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dunmore, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Dunmore isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lackawanna County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Dunmore
Disasters that paid out in Dunmore itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Dunmore), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan9 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
Lackawanna County has had 18 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 Dunmore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dunmore archive →Dunmore and its neighbors
Dunmore has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunmore | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Roaring Brook Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Throop | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Scranton | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 746 |
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 Dunmore 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Dunmore
Is Dunmore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dunmore has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #202 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dunmore flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Dunmore since 2018, $4K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Dunmore 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 Lackawanna County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dunmore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dunmore’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 Dunmore?
By FEMA money that reached Dunmore, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 9 households applied for aid, $31K approved.
Is Dunmore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Dunmore’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dunmore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dunmore’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.