Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Ford City, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ford City gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (99%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1980.
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 Ford City 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 Ford City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 99% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ford City, and Ford City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #1,037 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Ford City’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, Ford City has more expected damage per building than 100% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Ford City: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ford City flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ford City, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $6K
Ford City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Armstrong County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Ford City
Disasters that paid out in Ford City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Ford City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan107 households applied for aid$338K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $6K
Armstrong County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Ford City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ford City archive →Ford City and its neighbors
Ford City is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Buffalo Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Manor Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Ford City | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Lenape Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Ford Cliff | — | 409 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Ford City 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 Ford City
Is Ford City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ford City has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (99%). 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 Ford City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Ford City since 1980, $31K in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (2).
Is Ford City 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 Armstrong County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ford City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ford City’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 Ford City?
By FEMA money that reached Ford City, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 107 households applied for aid, $338K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 2 paid, $6K.
Is Ford City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (99%), and Ford City’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ford City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ford City’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.