Photo: Ruhrfisch · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Hughesville than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hughesville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1979.
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 Hughesville 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 Hughesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hughesville, and Hughesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hughesville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $972K a year in losses across Hughesville: $864K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hughesville flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hughesville, from FEMA’s records: 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee4 claims · $42K
Hughesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lycoming County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hughesville
Disasters that paid out in Hughesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Hughesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee209 households applied for aid$843K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $42K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Lycoming County has had 17 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 Hughesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hughesville archive →Get ready for what Hughesville 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 Hughesville
Is Hughesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hughesville has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Hughesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Hughesville since 1979, $52K in all, or 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (4).
Is Hughesville 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 Lycoming County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hughesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hughesville’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 Hughesville?
By FEMA money that reached Hughesville, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 209 households applied for aid, $843K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 4 paid, $42K.
Is Hughesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Hughesville’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hughesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hughesville’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.