Photo: Pittsburgh7 at en.wikipedia · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Mount Lebanon than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Lebanon gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #42 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1995.
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 Mount Lebanon 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
Earthquakes
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 Mount Lebanon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Lebanon, and Mount Lebanon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #42 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Lebanon’s residents live in 8 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, Mount Lebanon has less expected damage per building than 96% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Mount Lebanon: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Lebanon flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Lebanon, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $26K
Mount Lebanon 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.The storms Mount Lebanon remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Mount Lebanon itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20133 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Allegheny County
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 19951 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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.
Old photos of Mount Lebanon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Lebanon archive →Mount Lebanon and its neighbors
Mount Lebanon is 2nd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dormont | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Mount Lebanon | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Bethel Park | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Upper St. Clair Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Scott Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 218 |
| Baldwin Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Castle Shannon | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Pittsburgh | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 447 |
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 Mount Lebanon 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Mount Lebanon
Is Mount Lebanon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Lebanon has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #42 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Lebanon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Mount Lebanon since 1995, $134K in all. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (2).
Is Mount Lebanon 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 Mount Lebanon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Lebanon’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 Mount Lebanon?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 2 paid, $26K.
Is Mount Lebanon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Mount Lebanon’s rate for it is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Lebanon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Lebanon’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.