Photo: Mavisd · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Oil City as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oil City gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #791 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 185 claims 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 stands out about Oil City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Oil City 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 Oil City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oil City, and Oil City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #791 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oil City’s residents live in 4 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, Oil City has more expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Oil City: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oil City flood? Yes: 185 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oil City, from FEMA’s records: 40.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Oil City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Venango County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Oil City
Disasters that paid out in Oil City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Oil City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding48 households applied for aid$80K aid approved
Venango County has had 12 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 Oil City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oil City archive →Oil City and its neighbors
Oil City is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranberry Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Sugarcreek | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Oil City | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Cornplanter Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Woodland Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hasson Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Oil City 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 Oil City
Is Oil City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oil City has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #791 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oil City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 185 claims in Oil City since 1978, $4.5M in all, or 40.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Oil City 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 Venango County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oil City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oil City’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 Oil City?
By FEMA money that reached Oil City, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2003): 48 households applied for aid, $80K approved.
Is Oil City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Oil City’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oil City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oil City’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.