Photo: Canadian2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Export
Export isn’t graded for hazard risk: Export has 857 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1985.
What Export 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 Export flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Export, from FEMA’s records.
Export isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westmoreland County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Export
Disasters that paid out in Export itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Export), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
Westmoreland 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 Export after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Export archive →Get ready for what Export 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 Export
Does Export flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Export since 1985, $41K in all.
Is Export 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 Westmoreland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Export?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Export’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 Export?
By FEMA money that reached Export, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 6 households applied for aid, $31K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Export.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Export’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.