Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Lower Burrell than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lower Burrell gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #578 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Lower Burrell 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 Lower Burrell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lower Burrell, and Lower Burrell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #578 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lower Burrell’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, Lower Burrell has more expected damage per building than 56% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Lower Burrell: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lower Burrell flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lower Burrell, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan4 claims · $388K
Lower Burrell 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 Lower Burrell
Disasters that paid out in Lower Burrell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lower Burrell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan72 households applied for aid$301K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $388K
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 Lower Burrell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lower Burrell archive →Lower Burrell and its neighbors
Lower Burrell is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plum | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Upper Burrell Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Allegheny Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Lower Burrell | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| New Kensington | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Harrison Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Tarentum | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Natrona | — | 869 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 Lower Burrell 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 Lower Burrell
Is Lower Burrell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lower Burrell has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #578 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lower Burrell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Lower Burrell since 1979, $468K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (4).
Is Lower Burrell 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 Lower Burrell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lower Burrell’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 Lower Burrell?
By FEMA money that reached Lower Burrell, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 72 households applied for aid, $301K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 4 paid, $388K.
Is Lower Burrell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Lower Burrell’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lower Burrell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lower Burrell’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.