Photo: Dreajc10 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Sharon than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sharon gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #476 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Sharon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sharon 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 Sharon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sharon, and Sharon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #476 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sharon’s residents live in 5 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, Sharon has less expected damage per building than 54% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Sharon: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sharon flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sharon, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sharon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mercer County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Sharon
Disasters that paid out in Sharon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sharon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$30K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
Mercer County has had 10 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 Sharon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sharon archive →Sharon and its neighbors
Sharon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farrell | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hermitage | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Sharon | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Brookfield Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| West Hill | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Sharon 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 Sharon
Is Sharon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sharon has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #476 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sharon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Sharon since 1978, $359K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Sharon 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 Mercer County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sharon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sharon’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 Sharon?
By FEMA money that reached Sharon, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2003): 18 households applied for aid, $30K approved.
Is Sharon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Sharon’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sharon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sharon’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.