Photo: NChanq at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Forest Hills than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forest Hills gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #118 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1978.
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 Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forest Hills, and Forest Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #118 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Forest Hills’ 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, Forest Hills has less expected damage per building than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $980K a year in losses across Forest Hills: $743K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Forest Hills flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Forest Hills, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $40K
Forest Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Allegheny County.The storms Forest Hills remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Forest Hills itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 20072 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20092 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Allegheny County has had 15 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 Forest Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Forest Hills archive →Forest Hills and its neighbors
Forest Hills is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Wilkins Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Forest Hills | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Braddock Hills | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| North Braddock | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills
Is Forest Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forest Hills has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #118 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Forest Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Forest Hills since 1978, $64K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (2).
Is Forest Hills 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Forest Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forest Hills’ 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 Forest Hills?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 2 paid, $40K.
Is Forest Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Forest Hills’ rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forest Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forest Hills’ 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.