Blair County Courthouse · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Hollidaysburg faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hollidaysburg gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #672 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 110 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 Hollidaysburg’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hollidaysburg 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 Hollidaysburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hollidaysburg, and Hollidaysburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
B #672 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hollidaysburg’s 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, Hollidaysburg has more expected damage per building than 65% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Hollidaysburg: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hollidaysburg flood? Yes: 110 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hollidaysburg, from FEMA’s records: 37.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan10 claims · $46K
Hollidaysburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Blair County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hollidaysburg
Disasters that paid out in Hollidaysburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Hollidaysburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan136 households applied for aid$328K aid approved10 flood claims paid for it, $46K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances76 households applied for aid$179K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding33 households applied for aid$48K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
Blair County has had 15 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 Hollidaysburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hollidaysburg archive →Hollidaysburg and its neighbors
Hollidaysburg is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Blair Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Frankstown Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 170 |
| Hollidaysburg | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Fort Fetter | — | 218 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Penn Farms | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Loop | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Sylvan Hills | — | 578 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 Hollidaysburg 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 Hollidaysburg
Is Hollidaysburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hollidaysburg has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #672 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hollidaysburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 110 claims in Hollidaysburg since 1978, $1.2M in all, or 37.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (10).
Is Hollidaysburg 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 Blair County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hollidaysburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hollidaysburg’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 Hollidaysburg?
By FEMA money that reached Hollidaysburg, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 136 households applied for aid, $328K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 10 paid, $46K.
Is Hollidaysburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Hollidaysburg’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hollidaysburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hollidaysburg’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.