Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Philipsburg as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philipsburg gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #749 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 11 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 Philipsburg 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 Philipsburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Philipsburg, and Philipsburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #749 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Philipsburg’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, Philipsburg has more expected damage per building than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $709K a year in losses across Philipsburg: $651K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Philipsburg flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Philipsburg, from FEMA’s records: 7.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $11K
Philipsburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Centre County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Philipsburg
Disasters that paid out in Philipsburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Philipsburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan76 households applied for aid$202K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $11K
Centre County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Philipsburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Philipsburg archive →Philipsburg and its neighbors
Philipsburg is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Decatur Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Philipsburg | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Chester Hill | — | 788 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| North Philipsburg | — | 651 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| South Philipsburg | — | 397 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 Philipsburg 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 Philipsburg
Is Philipsburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philipsburg has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #749 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Philipsburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Philipsburg since 1978, $29K in all, or 7.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Philipsburg 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 Centre County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Philipsburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Philipsburg’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 Philipsburg?
By FEMA money that reached Philipsburg, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 76 households applied for aid, $202K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $11K.
Is Philipsburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Philipsburg’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Philipsburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Philipsburg’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.