Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Old Forge as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Old Forge gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #787 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 Old Forge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Old Forge 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 Old Forge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Old Forge, and Old Forge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #787 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Old Forge’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, Old Forge has more expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Old Forge: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Old Forge flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Old Forge, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan6 claims · $614K
- Hurricane Gloria3 claims · $18K
Old Forge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lackawanna County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Old Forge
Disasters that paid out in Old Forge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Old Forge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $45K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan15 households applied for aid$36K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $614K
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$468 aid approved
Lackawanna County has had 18 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 Old Forge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Old Forge archive →Old Forge and its neighbors
Old Forge is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ransom Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Old Forge | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Moosic | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Duryea | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
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 Old Forge 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 Old Forge
Is Old Forge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Old Forge has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #787 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Old Forge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Old Forge since 1978, $793K in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (6).
Is Old Forge 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 Lackawanna County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Old Forge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Old Forge’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 Old Forge?
By FEMA money that reached Old Forge, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 15 households applied for aid, $36K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 6 paid, $614K.
Is Old Forge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Old Forge’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Old Forge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Old Forge’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.