Photo: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Pittston than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pittston gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #990 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 57 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 stands out about Pittston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pittston 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 Pittston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pittston, and Pittston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #990 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pittston’s residents live in 3 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, Pittston has more expected damage per building than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Pittston: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pittston flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pittston, from FEMA’s records: 14.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan8 claims · $518K
- Tropical Storm Lee8 claims · $1.8M
Pittston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Luzerne County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pittston
Disasters that paid out in Pittston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pittston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee141 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides44 households applied for aid$53K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan67 households applied for aid$112K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $518K
Luzerne County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Pittston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pittston archive →Pittston and its neighbors
Pittston is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittston Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Jenkins Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 170 |
| West Pittston | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 438 |
| Exeter | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Pittston | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Duryea | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Browntown | — | 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 Pittston 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 Pittston
Is Pittston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pittston has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #990 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 Pittston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Pittston since 1979, $2.8M in all, or 14.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (8).
Is Pittston 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 Luzerne County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pittston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pittston’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 Pittston?
By FEMA money that reached Pittston, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 141 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 8 paid, $518K.
Is Pittston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Pittston’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pittston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pittston’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.