Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7 · Photo: User:Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Kittanning faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kittanning gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #1,033 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1980.
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 Kittanning’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kittanning 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 Kittanning’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kittanning, and Kittanning’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #1,033 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Kittanning’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, Kittanning has more expected damage per building than 100% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Kittanning: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kittanning flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kittanning, from FEMA’s records: 19.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan21 claims · $166K
Kittanning isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Armstrong County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Kittanning
Disasters that paid out in Kittanning itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Kittanning), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan153 households applied for aid$462K aid approved21 flood claims paid for it, $166K
Armstrong County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Kittanning after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kittanning archive →Kittanning and its neighbors
Kittanning 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Franklin Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Rayburn Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Manor Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Kittanning | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| West Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Kittanning 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 Kittanning
Is Kittanning at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kittanning has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #1,033 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). 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 Kittanning flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Kittanning since 1980, $230K in all, or 19.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (21).
Is Kittanning 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 Armstrong County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kittanning?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kittanning’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 Kittanning?
By FEMA money that reached Kittanning, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 153 households applied for aid, $462K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 21 paid, $166K.
Is Kittanning at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Kittanning’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kittanning.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kittanning’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.