Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Monroeville

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
MonroevilleMallEntrance-PittsburghPAPhoto: Avicennasis · CC BY-SA 3.0
A+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Monroeville · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect less hazard damage per building than Monroeville, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monroeville gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #8 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 89%Tornadoes 5%Earthquakes 3%

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

among the lowestof U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#8 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania
Hazard risk
A+#8 of 1,037
in Pennsylvania · among the lowest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
89% of expected building damage
Flood claims
29
paid since 1979 · $1.3M
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
1
of 15 declared for Allegheny County

What stands out about Monroeville’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Among the lowest expected damage of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 19796 flood claims were paid for 1979 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Monroeville 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

89%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 7 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Strong wind Hurricanes Winter storms Hail Wildfire Ice storms Lightning Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 17% of Monroeville’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Monroeville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monroeville, and Monroeville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Monroeville sits
Monroeville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A+ #8 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Monroeville’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding89%Tornadoes5%Everything else6%

The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Monroeville has less expected damage per building than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Monroeville: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Monroeville’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Monroeville flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monroeville, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 6 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 5 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 5 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 0 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 3 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 2 claims2026: 0 claims197919972004
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Ivan4 claims · $14K
29
paid claims since 1979
$1.3M
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$46K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Monroeville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Allegheny County.
Disasters

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Monroeville

Disasters that paid out in Monroeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to Monroeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2004Tropical Depression Ivan35 households applied for aid$75K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $14K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MonroevilleAllegheny County only

Allegheny County has had 15 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Monroeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Monroeville archive →
Next door

Monroeville and its neighbors

Monroeville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 10 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Murrysville: hazard risk APlum: hazard risk A+Penn Hills: hazard risk A+Trafford: hazard risk B−Level Green: not gradedPenn Township: hazard risk A+Wilkins Township: hazard risk A+Turtle Creek: hazard risk CNorth Versailles Township: hazard risk AWilmerding: hazard risk DMurrysvillePlumPenn HillsTraffordLevel GreenPenn TownshipWilkins TownshipTurtle CreekNorth Versailles TownshipWilmerdingMonroeville
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
MonroevilleA+among the lowest damageriver and rain flooding29
Wilkins TownshipA+among the lowest damageriver and rain flooding27
Penn TownshipA+less damage than 98%river and rain flooding276
Penn HillsA+less damage than 97%river and rain flooding40
PlumA+less damage than 97%river and rain flooding44
North Versailles TownshipAless damage than 94%river and rain flooding22
MurrysvilleAless damage than 88%river and rain flooding49
TraffordB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding11
Turtle CreekCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding120
WilmerdingDmore damage than 91%river and rain flooding1
Level Green—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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Monroeville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Monroeville

Is Monroeville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monroeville has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #8 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 Monroeville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Monroeville since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (4).

Is Monroeville 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Monroeville?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monroeville’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 Monroeville?

By FEMA money that reached Monroeville, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 35 households applied for aid, $75K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 4 paid, $14K.

Is Monroeville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Monroeville’s rate for it is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monroeville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monroeville’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.