Photo: Nicholas · CC BY 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Meadville than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Meadville gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #382 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 Meadville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Meadville 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 Meadville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Meadville, and Meadville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #382 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Meadville’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, Meadville has less expected damage per building than 63% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Meadville: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Meadville flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Meadville, from FEMA’s records: 7.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Meadville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Crawford County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Meadville
Disasters that paid out in Meadville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Meadville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan8 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances77 households applied for aid$159K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding14 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
Crawford County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Meadville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Meadville archive →Meadville and its neighbors
Meadville is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Mead Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Meadville | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Vernon Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Fredericksburg | — | 673 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Kerrtown | — | 100 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 Meadville 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 Meadville
Is Meadville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Meadville has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #382 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Meadville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Meadville since 1979, $125K in all, or 7.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Meadville 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 Crawford County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Meadville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Meadville’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 Meadville?
By FEMA money that reached Meadville, Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances (2004): 77 households applied for aid, $159K approved.
Is Meadville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Meadville’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Meadville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Meadville’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.