Samuel Warden House · Photo: Canadian2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Mount Pleasant than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Pleasant gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #122 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1978.
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 Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Pleasant, and Mount Pleasant’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
A #122 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Pleasant’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, Mount Pleasant has less expected damage per building than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $586K a year in losses across Mount Pleasant: $515K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Pleasant flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Pleasant, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mount Pleasant isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westmoreland County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Mount Pleasant
Disasters that paid out in Mount Pleasant itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Mount Pleasant), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Westmoreland County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Mount Pleasant after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Pleasant archive →Mount Pleasant and its neighbors
Mount Pleasant has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Huntingdon Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Mount Pleasant Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
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 Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant
Is Mount Pleasant at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Pleasant has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #122 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Pleasant flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Mount Pleasant since 1978, $219 in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mount Pleasant 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 Westmoreland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mount Pleasant?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Pleasant’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 Pleasant?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Pleasant, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 3 households applied for aid, $3K approved.
Is Mount Pleasant at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Mount Pleasant’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Pleasant.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Pleasant’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.