Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Latrobe’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Latrobe gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #528 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 stands out about Latrobe’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Latrobe 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 Latrobe’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Latrobe, and Latrobe’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #528 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Latrobe’s residents live in 3 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, Latrobe has more expected damage per building than 51% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Latrobe: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Latrobe flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Latrobe, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan5 claims · $236K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $22K
Latrobe isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westmoreland County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Latrobe
Disasters that paid out in Latrobe itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Latrobe), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan30 households applied for aid$91K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $236K
Westmoreland County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Latrobe after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Latrobe archive →Latrobe and its neighbors
Latrobe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Derry Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Latrobe | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Lawson Heights | — | 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 Latrobe 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 Latrobe
Is Latrobe at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Latrobe has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #528 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Latrobe flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Latrobe since 1979, $294K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (5).
Is Latrobe 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 Westmoreland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Latrobe?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Latrobe’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 Latrobe?
By FEMA money that reached Latrobe, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 30 households applied for aid, $91K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 5 paid, $236K.
Is Latrobe at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Latrobe’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Latrobe.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Latrobe’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.