Photo: Hshuvaeva · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Nesquehoning faces more hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nesquehoning gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #875 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1993.
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 Nesquehoning 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 Nesquehoning’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nesquehoning, and Nesquehoning’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #875 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Nesquehoning’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Nesquehoning has more expected damage per building than 84% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Nesquehoning: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nesquehoning flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nesquehoning, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Nesquehoning isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Carbon County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nesquehoning
Disasters that paid out in Nesquehoning itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Nesquehoning), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides30 households applied for aid$72K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Carbon 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 Nesquehoning after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nesquehoning archive →Nesquehoning and its neighbors
Nesquehoning is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Hill | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Packer Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Jim Thorpe | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Nesquehoning | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lehigh Township | — | 330 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 Nesquehoning 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 Nesquehoning
Is Nesquehoning at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nesquehoning has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #875 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). 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 Nesquehoning flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Nesquehoning since 1993, $23K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Nesquehoning 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 Carbon County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nesquehoning?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nesquehoning’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 Nesquehoning?
By FEMA money that reached Nesquehoning, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 30 households applied for aid, $72K approved.
Is Nesquehoning at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Nesquehoning’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nesquehoning.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nesquehoning’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.