Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Scranton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scranton 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 (92%). Flood insurance has paid 746 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 Scranton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Scranton 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 Scranton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Scranton, and Scranton’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).
Scranton’s residents live in 27 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, Scranton has more expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.3M a year in losses across Scranton: $16.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Scranton flood? Yes: 746 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Scranton, from FEMA’s records: 21.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan161 claims · $3.6M
- Hurricane Gloria64 claims · $581K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $4K
Scranton 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Scranton
Disasters that paid out in Scranton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Scranton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides117 households applied for aid$242K aid approved65 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan375 households applied for aid$881K aid approved161 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$22K aid approved18 flood claims paid that year
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 Scranton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Scranton archive →Scranton and its neighbors
Scranton is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunmore | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Roaring Brook Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| South Abington Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Spring Brook Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Taylor | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ransom Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Scranton | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 746 |
| Moosic | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
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 Scranton 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 Scranton
Is Scranton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scranton 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 (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Scranton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 746 claims in Scranton since 1978, $14.6M in all, or 21.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 111 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (161).
Is Scranton 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 Scranton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Scranton’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 Scranton?
By FEMA money that reached Scranton, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 375 households applied for aid, $881K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 161 paid, $3.6M.
Is Scranton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Scranton’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Scranton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Scranton’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.