Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Luzerne Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Luzerne Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #950 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1985.
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 Luzerne Township 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 Luzerne Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Luzerne Township, and Luzerne Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #950 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Luzerne Township’s residents live in 2 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, Luzerne Township has more expected damage per building than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Luzerne Township: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Luzerne Township flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Luzerne Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Luzerne Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fayette County.The storms Luzerne Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Fayette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Luzerne Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19965 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Fayette County
- 20065 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20004 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Fayette County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Luzerne Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Luzerne Township archive →Luzerne Township and its neighbors
Luzerne Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redstone Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| German Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Cumberland Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Luzerne Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Centerville | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Brownsville | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| East Bethlehem Township | Dmore damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Hiller | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Republic | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Allison | — | 573 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Rices Landing | — | 515 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 Luzerne Township 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 Luzerne Township
Is Luzerne Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Luzerne Township has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #950 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 Luzerne Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Luzerne Township since 1985, $239K in all, or 12.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Luzerne Township 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 Fayette County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Luzerne Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Luzerne Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Luzerne Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Luzerne Township’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Luzerne Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Luzerne Township’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.