St. Mark's Episcopal Church · Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Jim Thorpe faces less hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jim Thorpe gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #351 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2004.
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 Jim Thorpe 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 Jim Thorpe’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jim Thorpe, and Jim Thorpe’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #351 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Jim Thorpe’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, Jim Thorpe has less expected damage per building than 66% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Jim Thorpe: $763K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Jim Thorpe flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jim Thorpe, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $5K
Jim Thorpe isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Carbon County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jim Thorpe
Disasters that paid out in Jim Thorpe itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Jim Thorpe), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides92 households applied for aid$163K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
Carbon 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 Jim Thorpe after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jim Thorpe archive →Jim Thorpe and its neighbors
Jim Thorpe is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Hill | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Penn Forest Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Jim Thorpe | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mahoning Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Nesquehoning | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Franklin Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lehigh Township | — | 330 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 Jim Thorpe 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Jim Thorpe
Is Jim Thorpe at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jim Thorpe has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #351 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Jim Thorpe flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Jim Thorpe since 2004, $5K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Jim Thorpe 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 Carbon County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Jim Thorpe?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Jim Thorpe’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 Jim Thorpe?
By FEMA money that reached Jim Thorpe, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 92 households applied for aid, $163K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Jim Thorpe at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Jim Thorpe’s rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jim Thorpe.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jim Thorpe’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.