Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Mount Union than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Union gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1984.
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 Union 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 Union’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Union, and Mount Union’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Mount Union’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $920K a year in losses across Mount Union: $781K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Union flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Union, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mount Union isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Huntingdon County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Union
Disasters that paid out in Mount Union itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Mount Union), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee17 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan62 households applied for aid$116K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances3 households applied for aid$813 aid approved
Huntingdon County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Mount Union after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Union archive →Mount Union and its neighbors
Mount Union has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Union | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Brady Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Shirley Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Wayne Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Allenport | — | 719 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 Mount Union 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 Union
Is Mount Union at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Union has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Union flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Mount Union since 1984, $8K in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Mount Union 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 Huntingdon County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mount Union?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Union’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 Union?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Union, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 62 households applied for aid, $116K approved.
Is Mount Union at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Mount Union’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Union.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Union’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.