Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in New Kensington as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Kensington gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #788 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 37 claims here since 1979.
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 New Kensington 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 New Kensington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Kensington, and New Kensington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #788 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Kensington’s residents live in 6 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, New Kensington has more expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across New Kensington: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Kensington flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Kensington, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan12 claims · $193K
New Kensington 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 New Kensington
Disasters that paid out in New Kensington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Kensington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan179 households applied for aid$518K aid approved12 flood claims paid for it, $193K
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 New Kensington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Kensington archive →New Kensington and its neighbors
New Kensington is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springdale Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lower Burrell | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| New Kensington | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Arnold | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| East Deer Township | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Tarentum | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
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 New Kensington 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 New Kensington
Is New Kensington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Kensington has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #788 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Kensington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in New Kensington since 1979, $348K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (12).
Is New Kensington 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 New Kensington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Kensington’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 New Kensington?
By FEMA money that reached New Kensington, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 179 households applied for aid, $518K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 12 paid, $193K.
Is New Kensington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and New Kensington’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Kensington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Kensington’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.