Photo: Andrew Rodland · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Honesdale than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Honesdale gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #985 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1996.
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 Honesdale 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 Honesdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Honesdale, and Honesdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #985 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Honesdale’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, Honesdale has more expected damage per building than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Honesdale: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Honesdale flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Honesdale, from FEMA’s records: 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $33K
Honesdale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Honesdale
Disasters that paid out in Honesdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Honesdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides91 households applied for aid$96K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$19K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan41 households applied for aid$79K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $33K
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding58 households applied for aid$106K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Wayne County has had 21 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 Honesdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Honesdale archive →Honesdale and its neighbors
Honesdale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyberry Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Texas Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Honesdale | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
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 Honesdale 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 Honesdale
Is Honesdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Honesdale has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #985 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Honesdale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Honesdale since 1996, $491K in all, or 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% 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 Honesdale 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 Wayne County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Honesdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Honesdale’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 Honesdale?
By FEMA money that reached Honesdale, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2003): 58 households applied for aid, $106K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 2 paid, $33K.
Is Honesdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Honesdale’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Honesdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Honesdale’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.