Photo: Ted Van Pelt · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Harrisburg than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrisburg gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #940 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 1,516 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 stands out about Harrisburg’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harrisburg, and Harrisburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #940 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harrisburg’s residents live in 14 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, Harrisburg has more expected damage per building than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.4M a year in losses across Harrisburg: $20.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harrisburg flood? Yes: 1,516 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harrisburg, from FEMA’s records: 62.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee516 claims · $14.0M
- Tropical Storm Ivan315 claims · $6.2M
Harrisburg is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Dauphin County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harrisburg
Disasters that paid out in Harrisburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Harrisburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee3,057 households applied for aid$4.1M aid approved516 flood claims paid for it, $14.0M
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides47 households applied for aid$34K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan907 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved315 flood claims paid for it, $6.2M
Dauphin 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 Harrisburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harrisburg archive →Harrisburg and its neighbors
Harrisburg is 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swatara Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 312 |
| East Pennsboro Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 134 |
| Lemoyne | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Susquehanna Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 523 |
| Paxtang | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Harrisburg | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1,516 |
| Wormleysburg | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| New Cumberland | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 254 |
| West Fairview | — | 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 Harrisburg 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.
- Harrisburg residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Harrisburg
Is Harrisburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrisburg has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #940 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harrisburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,516 claims in Harrisburg since 1978, $28.3M in all, or 62.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 249 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (516).
Is Harrisburg 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 Dauphin County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Harrisburg?
Harrisburg is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Harrisburg?
By FEMA money that reached Harrisburg, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 3,057 households applied for aid, $4.1M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 516 paid, $14.0M.
Is Harrisburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Harrisburg’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harrisburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harrisburg’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.