Photo: Umrok · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Kingston than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #849 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 108 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 Kingston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kingston 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 Kingston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kingston, and Kingston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #849 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kingston’s residents live in 5 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, Kingston has more expected damage per building than 82% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Kingston: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kingston flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kingston, from FEMA’s records: 16.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan8 claims · $44K
- Tropical Storm Lee5 claims · $45K
Kingston is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Luzerne County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kingston
Disasters that paid out in Kingston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Kingston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee33 households applied for aid$11K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $45K
- 2011Hurricane Irene11 households applied for aid$195 aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $13K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides27 households applied for aid$28K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan14 households applied for aid$16K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $44K
Luzerne County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Kingston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kingston archive →Kingston and its neighbors
Kingston is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Forty Fort | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Plains Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 198 |
| Kingston | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Wilkes-Barre | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 523 |
| Pringle | — | 803 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 Kingston 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.
- Kingston residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Kingston
Is Kingston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #849 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kingston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Kingston since 1978, $368K in all, or 16.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (8).
Is Kingston 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 Luzerne County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kingston?
Kingston is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Kingston?
By FEMA money that reached Kingston, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 27 households applied for aid, $28K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 8 paid, $44K.
Is Kingston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Kingston’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kingston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kingston’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.