Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Monaca than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monaca gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #398 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2004.
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 Monaca 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 Monaca’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monaca, and Monaca’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #398 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Monaca’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, Monaca has less expected damage per building than 62% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Monaca: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Monaca flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monaca, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $16K
Monaca isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Beaver County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Monaca
Disasters that paid out in Monaca itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Monaca), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan19 households applied for aid$62K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $16K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances12 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
Beaver County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Monaca after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Monaca archive →Monaca and its neighbors
Monaca is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Rochester | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Monaca | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Freedom | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| East Rochester | — | 585 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Bridgewater | — | 789 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 Monaca 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 Monaca
Is Monaca at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monaca has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #398 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Monaca flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Monaca since 2004, $22K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Monaca 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 Beaver County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Monaca?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monaca’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 Monaca?
By FEMA money that reached Monaca, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 19 households applied for aid, $62K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $16K.
Is Monaca at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Monaca’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monaca.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monaca’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.